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.