SRC-TAG S.B. 1470 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1470
78R6927 ESH-DBy: West, Royce
Education
4/9/2003
As Filed


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.   As proposed, 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(d), Education Code, as added by Chapter
1514, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, to provide 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, 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 half, rather than a quarter, of the
credits required to graduate under the minimum graduation requirements of
the district or school. 

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.