SRC-AMY C.S.S.B. 1510 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1510 78R11302 BDH-FBy: Zaffirini Education 4/9/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the system of monitoring school districts can be very costly to school districts and to the state. Streamlining the District Effectiveness & Compliance review system may result in financial savings for the school districts and prevent duplication of inspections. C.S.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 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 29.062, Education Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-1), as follows: (a) Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to monitor 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 three years. Authorizes TEA to combine the inspection of a district under this section with that of the district's special education program under Section 29.010, Education Code (Compliance). (a-1) Sets forth the required content of an on-site monitoring inspection under this section. (b) Requires the areas to be monitored in an on-site inspection to respond not later than the 30th day after the date the commissioner of education (commissioner) notifies the district, or school, of the commissioner's determination. 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. Provides that the commissioner is not required to include in the analysis under this subsection, an analysis of each area described by Subsection (b). 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 of program requirements. [There is no Subsection (b-1) in bill as drafted, nor is there existing language that is struck or continues to exist in this section, as drafted.] SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original in SECTION 1 by requiring the Texas Education Agency to monitor compliance with all applicable state laws an rules, rather than compliance with state rules, by amending Subsection (b), and by adding proposed Subsections (a-1) and (b-1). Differs from the original in SECTION 2 by changing the application of this Act from beginning with the 2003-2004 school year to the 2004-2005 school year.