SRC- TAG C.S.H.B. 1440 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1440 78R16386 KKA-DBy: Eissler (Van de Putte) Education 5/18/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) 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 performance of at least proficient or the equivalent, and who has no identified areas of performance deficiency. C.S.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 as otherwise provided by this subsection. Provides that a teacher may be appraised less frequently if the teacher agrees in writing and the teacher's most recent evaluation rated the teacher as at least proficient, or the equivalent, and did not identify any area of deficiency. Provides that a teacher who is appraised less frequently than annually must be appraised at least once during each period of five school years. SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.