SRC-TAG S.B. 1470 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1470 By: West, Royce Education 6/24/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is a necessity to modify the high school equivalency program (HSEP) so that it can more effectively assess a student's knowledge. The HSEP funding requirement has proven to be a disincentive for numerous high schools and HSEP fails to ensure accountability because it lacks performance standards. S.B. 1470 modifies the high school equivalency program operated by a school district or open-enrollment charter school. 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. Amends Section 29.087, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, by amending Subsections (b), (d), and (f) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows: (b) Authorizes any school district or open-enrollment charter school to apply for authorization to operate under this section. Deletes text prohibiting a school or open-enrollment charter school from applying for authorization to operate a program under this section unless on May 1, 2001, the district or school was operating a similar program as authorized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Makes a nonsubstantive change. (b-1) Authorizes a school district or open-enrollment charter school authorized by the commissioner of education (commissioner) on or before August 31, 2003, to operate a program under this section to continue to operate that program in accordance with this section. (d) Provides that a student is eligible to participate in a program authorized by this section if the student was ordered by a court under Article 45.054 (Authority to Employ Care Manager for Juvenile Case), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th legislature, Regular Session, 2001, or by the Texas Youth Commission to meet certain requirements or if at least two school years have elapsed since the student first enrolled in ninth grade and the student has accumulated less than one third, rather than a quarter, of the credits required to graduate under the minimum graduation requirements of the district or school. (f) Requires a student participating in a program authorized by this section to have taken the assessment instrument specified by Section 39.023(a) for grade 9 before entering the program and requires to take each grade level assessment instruments administered during the period in which the student is enrolled in the program. Deletes text providing exit-level assessment instrument under Section 39.025(a). Deletes text authorizing the commissioner to authorize a student to take the assessment instrument required by Section 39.023(a) to be administered to students in grade 10 instead of the exist-level assessment instrument. SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 29.087(o), Education Code (regarding high school equivalency programs), as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.