S.B. 578 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 578
By: Shapiro
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Although schools which participate in the Advanced Placement (AP) program
receive a $3000 equipment grant and $100 for each student who scores a 3
or higher on an AP test, current law provides no guidelines for
determining the use of those funds. S.B. 578 requires principals of
schools participating in the AP program to assemble a team of teachers
experienced with the program to determine the use of the award funds.  In
addition, S.B. 578 specifically allows such a team to direct funds to
award individual teachers in the program. 


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. 578 amends the Education Code to require the principal of each school
participating in the Advanced Placement program to convene, at least once
a year, a team of no more than five people, including at least three
teachers, who meet certain requirements for the purpose of determining the
use of Advanced Placement program funds. The bill prohibits anything in
this section (Section 28.053) from limiting the authority of the team to
direct expenditure of funds awarded under Section 28.053(a)(2) for awards
of individual teachers participating in the program. The bill requires
Advanced Placement program funds awarded to be used in the manner
determined by the campus team established by the principal. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.