AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 3, 81st Legislature, 2009, Regular Session, enabled school districts and campuses to earn distinction designations to highlight academic excellence as well as innovative programs in the 21st century workforce and other areas. These distinctions recognize campuses not just for their students passing the state assessment, but for taking steps to enrich their students through a variety of curriculum areas. Charter schools, however, were not explicitly included in the section as being eligible to earn distinction designations.
S.B. 1484 allows charter schools, in addition to school districts, to earn distinction designations for academic excellence and innovative programs.
As proposed, S.B. 1484 amends current law relating to authorizing open-enrollment charter schools to be awarded academic distinction designations.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.201, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 39.201. DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Makes no further changes.
(b) Creates this subsection from existing text. Makes no further changes.
(c) Prohibits an open-enrollment charter school, in addition to the condition prescribed by Subsection (b) (relating to performance required for distinction designation), from being awarded a distinction designation under this subchapter if the charter school is evaluated under alternative education accountability procedures adopted by the commissioner of education (commissioner).
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 39, Education Code, by adding Section 39.2011, as follows:
Sec. 39.2011. APPLICABILITY TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. Provides that, in this subchapter:
(1) a district includes an open-enrollment charter school that operates on more
than one campus; and
(2) a campus includes an open-enrollment charter school campus.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 12.104(b), Education Code, to provide that an open-enrollment charter is subject to a provision of this title establishing a criminal offense, and a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this title, relating to certain items, including public school accountability under Subchapters B (Assessment of Academic Skills), C (Accreditation), D (Financial Accountability), E (Accreditation Interventions and Sanctions), G (Distinction Designations), and J (Parent and Educator Reports), Chapter 39 (Public School System Accountability), rather than Subchapters B, C, D, E, and J.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.