AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 2007, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) changed its rules regarding transition planning for students with individualized education programs (IEPs) to begin at age 16, or whenever is most appropriate for the child, instead of age 14.
The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires states to develop performance plans around indicators that are used to gather data and measure how well districts are doing in addressing high school transition. There are no quality guidelines or reporting requirements for this process that truly hold school districts accountable for making transition planning meaningful. Indicator 13 measures how many students have IEPs with transition goals and Indicator 14 measures the percentage of students with IEPs who have a job or are in school within one year after graduation. With only these two metrics for transition planning, quality is not a standard.
C.S.S.B. 596 amends current law relating to transition planning for a public school student receiving special education services.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 29.011, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 29.011. TRANSITION PLANNING. Requires the commissioner of education by rule to adopt procedures for compliance with federal requirements relating to transition services for students who are enrolled in special education programs under this subchapter. Requires that the procedures:
(1) provide that transition planning begins for a student not later than when the student reaches 14 years of age; and
(2) specify the manner in which a student's admission, review, and dismissal committee must consider, and if appropriate, address in the student's individualized education program certain issues, including social and recreational goals. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Provides that Section 29.011, Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.