C.S.H.B. 2683 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2683 By: Denny Public Education Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently, part of a school district's performance is determined by the assessment scores of students in schools located in that district. The district may include schools that have residential programs or facilities either operated by or under contact with the Texas Youth Commission. The scores taken from the assessment tests of these students are used when evaluating the district even though these alternative schools, the students who attend, and the curriculum are quite different than other schools in the district. Students in these schools have been required to attend the residential program or facility. Students' education may be disrupted due to other activities that pertain to their treatment program such as drug therapy or behavior management interventions. These activities are necessary for the health and stability of the student and may affect their scores on assessment tests. PURPOSE The purpose of this bill is to determine and report separately the performance of such students and to prohibit their assessment results from being included in determining the accreditation of a school district in which schools with certain residential programs reside. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2683 amends the Education Code to prohibit the performance on any academic excellence indicators of students who are confined by court order in a program or facility operated by, or under a contract with, the Texas Youth Commission or other governmental entity from being considered in determining the accreditation status of the district within which such a program is located, or in determining the district's performance. The bill requires the performance of such students on any assessment instrument or other academic excellence indicators to be determined and reported separately from the district within which the program is located. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. 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. 2683 modifies the original version by modifying the effective date and conforming to the Texas Legislative Council style and format.