S.B. 186 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 186
By: Janek
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law requires that academic performance indicators include
dropout and district completion rates but does not specify how those rates
should be computed.  Texas law also requires that performance indicators
include the percentage of student taking end-of-course assessment
instruments. S.B. 186 requires computation of dropout rates in accordance
with standards adopted by the National Center for Education Statistics of
the United States Department of Education and deletes the requirement that
performance indicators include the percentage of students taking
end-of-course assessment instruments.  


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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


ANALYSIS

S.B. 186 reenacts and amends Section 39.051(b), Education Code, as amended
by Chapters 8, 725, 834, and 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature. 

The bill requires dropout rates, including dropout rates and district
completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12, be computed in accordance
with standards and definitions adopted by the National Center for
Education Statistics of the United States Department of Education. The
bill adds to the list of indicators high school graduation rates, computed
in accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance with
the federal No Child Left Behind Act. 

The bill deletes the requirement that the percentage of students taking
end-of-course assessment instruments adopted under Section 39.023(d) be
included as a performance indicator relating to the computation of public
school dropout and completion rates. 

This Act applies beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.

The bill requires the Texas Education Agency to modify its data collection
system to permit the application of the National Center for Education
Statistics definition of a dropout to campuses not later than the
2005-2006 school year and to assist districts in computing the required
rates to the extent necessary to apply for dropout reduction grants funded
under Section 1803 of the No Child Left Behind Act. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.