S.B. 815 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 815 By: Van de Putte Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND 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. C.S.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 It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 28.002, Education Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS S.B. 815 amends the Education Code, by altering a reference to the "foundation curriculum" to read "required curriculum." The bill 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. The bill authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary for the implementation of this subsection. The bill provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2005. The bill repeals Section 28.002(d), Education Code. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.