SRC-JEC, MSY S.B. 815 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 815 By: Van de Putte Education 6/13/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, a school district is required to offer both foundation and enrichment curricula. However, as a condition of accreditation, a school district is required to provide instruction using the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in the foundation curriculum, whereas in the enrichment curriculum, the TEKS standards are only required to be used as guidelines. S.B. 815 repeals language describing the requirements for the enrichment curriculum and provides that a school district must provide instruction of certain essential knowledge and skills in the enrichment curriculum as a condition of accreditation. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 28.002, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.002, Education Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1), as follows: (c) Amends a reference to the "foundation curriculum" to read "required curriculum." (c-1) Authorizes a district to apply to the commissioner of education (commissioner) for an extension in complying with the rules adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) under Subsection (c), as amended by this Act. Authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary for the implementation of this subsection. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2005. SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 28.002(d), Education Code (requiring SBOE to identify essential knowledge and skills of each subject of the enrichment curriculum, and requiring each district to use the knowledge and skills identified SBOE as instructional guidelines). SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003.