BILL ANALYSIS
By: Bohac
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, public schools and school districts are given annual performance ratings by the Texas Education Agency. The four levels of performance are "exemplary", "recognized", "academically acceptable" or "academically unacceptable." Although these ratings are meant to provide information about the quality and performance of public schools, many people are unaware they exist. This information is important to Texas families seeking a superior education for their children. House Bill 3297 requires a school district to distribute the latest performance rating of each school campus with a student's first grade report. It also requires a school district that maintains an Internet website, to make available to the public information contained in the most recent campus report cards and district performance report with a definition and explanation of that information.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
HB 3297 amends the education code by adding that the first written student grade report a school district provides during a school year must include the latest performance rating of the campus the student is enrolled and a definition and explanation of each performance rating. A school district maintaining an Internet website is required to publicly make available specific information on that site as designated not later than the 10th day after the first day of each school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act applies beginning with the 2005 - 2006 school year. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.