C.S.H.B. 673 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 673
By: Madden
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND  

In 2002, Congress enacted the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB)Act. This
act requires any school receiving federal Elementary and Secondary
Education Act Title I, Part A funding to notify parents regarding teachers
that do not meet the NCLB Act's definition of "highly qualified."
Currently, the Texas Education Code essentially duplicates the NCLB Act
requirements.  


PURPOSE

C.S.H.B. 673 amends the Education Code by exempting school districts from
provisions which essentially duplicate those in the NCLB Act concerning
parental notification of uncertified teachers. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 


ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B.  673 amends the Education Code relating to the requirement of
school districts to provide parental notification when assigning an
inappropriately certified or uncertified teacher to the same classroom for
more than 30 consecutive instructional days during the same school year
(Section 21.057). The bill provides that if a school, in accordance with
the  No Child Left Behind Act is required  to provide notice to a parent
regarding a teacher who is not highly qualified, that school is exempt
from Section 21.057, Education Code. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003. 


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 673 modifies the original version by removing language that
repeals Section 21.057 and adding a provision that exempts certain school
districts from Section 21.057.