SRC-TAG H.B. 1440 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1440 78R6499 KKA-FBy: Eissler (Van De Putte) Education 5/8/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law requires all teachers to undergo an appraisal every year. However, this provision fails to permit an administrator to reduce the frequency of appraisals for a teacher with a history of satisfactory or better performance, and who has no identified areas of performance deficiency. H.B. 1440 amends the Education Code to provide for a permissive exemption of certain teachers from the annual appraisal requirement. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.203(a), Education Code, to provide that Section 21.352(c) is an exception to the requirement that the employment policies adopted by a school district board of trustees require a written evaluation of each teacher at annual or more frequent intervals. SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.352(c), Education Code, to require that a teacher appraisal be completed at least once during each school year, except that a teacher may be appraised less frequently if the teacher agrees in writing and the teacher's most recent evaluation was satisfactory and did not identify any area of deficiency. SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.