BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1510 By: Zaffirini Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the system of monitoring school districts can be very costly to school districts and the state. Streamlining the District Effectiveness & Compliance review system may result in financial savings for school districts and prevent duplication of inspections. S.B. 1510 changes the bilingual/English as a Second Language review from a three-year to a five-year cycle and authorizes the review to be combined with the special education program review. This bill also establishes the required content of an on-site monitoring inspection, and the commissioner's consideration in determining a school or district's risk level. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that his bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, institution, or agency. ANALYSIS S.B. 1510 amends the Education Code by requiring the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to monitor bilingual education and special language program compliance with all applicable state laws and rules by inspecting each school district and open-enrollment charter school on-site at least every five years, rather than every three years. The bill authorizes TEA to combine the bilingual education and special language programs inspection of a district with that of the district's special education program under Section 29.010, Education Code. The bill sets forth the required content of an on-site monitoring inspection and the areas to be monitored in an on-site inspection. The bill requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to conduct a risk-based analysis relating to bilingual education and special language programs and develop the system and standards for the analysis. The bill sets forth requirements of analysis and response for schools rated as high risk for noncompliance by the analysis. The bill requires the areas to be monitored in an on-site inspection to respond not later than the 30th day after the date the commissioner notifies the district, or school, of the commissioner's determination. The bill requires the commissioner, if the district's or school's response does not change the commissioner's determination that the district or school is at high risk of noncompliance, or if the district or school does not respond in a timely manner, to order TEA staff to conduct on-site monitoring of the district or school. The bill provides that the commissioner is not required to include in the analysis under this subsection, an analysis of each area described by Section 29.062(b). The bill requires the commissioner, in determining whether a district or school is at high-risk of noncompliance, to consider excessive parental complaints of noncompliance and frequent district or school requests for waivers or program requirements. This Act applies beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.