BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3468
79R12388 SLO-F By: Isett (Van de Putte)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Over the past decade many instructional aids have been developed to enhance the reading ability of a student. Campuses across the state are using some of these materials to augment the TEKS (Texas Assessment Knowledge and Skills) curricula. H.B. 3468 allows the commissioner of education to develop pilot programs implementing accelerated learning curricula aids. H.B. 3468 does not implement a new type of curriculum but augments the existing TEKS with instructional tools.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 29.094, Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.094, as follows:
Sec. 29.094. INTENSIVE READING AND LANGUAGE INTERVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Defines "pilot program."
(b) Authorizes the commissioner of education (commissioner), by rule to establish a pilot program in which a participating campus provides intensive reading and language intervention to participating students.
(c) Authorizes a campus to apply to the commissioner to participate, if the commissioner establishes the pilot program. Authorizes the commissioner to select certain campuses for participation in the pilot program. Requires the standards established by the commissioner for purposes of this subsection to be based on reading performance standards required for student promotion under Section 28.0211.
(d) Requires the commissioner to adopt minimum criteria that a program must meet to be selected by a participating campus for use in providing intensive reading and language intervention, if the commissioner establishes the pilot program. Sets forth certain requirements regarding the criteria. Requires a participating campus to submit a summary of the campus's proposed intensive intervention program to the commissioner for approval. Authorizes the commissioner to approve only a program that follows the minimum criteria adopted under this subsection.
(e) Requires the principal of a participating campus, in consultation with classroom teachers at the campus, to select students to participate in the pilot program. Requires a participating campus to assess each selected student before the student enters and after the student transfers out of the pilot program to measure the student's progress.
(f) Requires any vendor of an intensive intervention program approved under Subsection (d), in consultation with specific entities, to provide the legislature with a report describing student progress under certain assessments, not later than December 31, 2006..
(g) Authorizes the commissioner, notwithstanding any other law, to provide funding for the pilot program using not more than $6 million of funding appropriated for purposes of Section 28.0211.
(h) Requires the commissioner to adopt rules necessary to implement this section, if the program is established.
(i) Requires the commissioner to make the pilot program available to participating campuses during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years, if the program is established.
(j) Provides that this section expires July 1, 2007.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.