79R2170 BDH-D

By:  McClendon                                                    H.B. No. 286



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a statewide student enrollment, attendance, and 
achievement tracking system.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 7, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 7.008 to read as follows:
	Sec. 7.008.  STATEWIDE STUDENT ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND 
ACHIEVEMENT TRACKING SYSTEM.  (a)  Each school district shall 
participate in a system meeting standards approved by the 
commissioner to track each student enrolled in a public school in 
this state. A student tracking system must:
		(1)  produce detailed reports for agency officials and 
policymakers and update information on each student's:
			(A)  enrollment;                                                      
			(B)  attendance;                                                      
			(C)  achievement, including course or grade 
completion and assessment instrument results; and
			(D)  if applicable, specific reason for leaving a 
school or school district, such as transferring, graduating, or 
dropping out of school; and
		(2)  to facilitate the electronic transfer of student 
records and the evaluation and improvement of educational programs 
in the state, permit an authorized state or district official to 
electronically retrieve information about a particular student as 
necessary.
	(b)  Each school district shall use the student tracking 
system.      
	(c)  The commissioner may solicit and accept grant funds to 
maintain the student tracking system and to make the system 
available to school districts.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2006-2007 
school year.       
	SECTION 3.  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.