SRC-AMY, TJG S.B. 186 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 186
78R926 ESH-DBy: Janek
Education
2/27/2003
As Filed


DIGEST 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.  As proposed, 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 student
taking end-of-course assessment instruments.  


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.  Reenacts and amends Section 39.051(b), Education Code, as
amended by Chapters 8, 725, 834, and 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
Regular Session, as follows: 

(b) 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.
Deletes existing Subsection 9 which required the percentage of students
taking end-of-course assessment instruments adopted under Section
39.023(d) (Adoption and Administration of Instruments) to be included as a
performance indicator relating to the computation of public school dropout
and completion rates. Replaces "subchapter" with "chapter" referring to
exemption from the assessment program.  Redesignates Subsection 11 as 10. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2003-2004
school year. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.