AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The purpose of this legislation is to give the commissioner of education (commissioner) a much needed option for school districts in crisis. Current law authorizes the commissioner to place a school district under the management of a board of managers for a two-year period. This time allotment is given to the board to make changes in order to turn around failing districts.
However, some districts need more time to improve. In such cases, S.B. 1825 would give the commissioner the option to extend the time period up to two additional years for a board of governors to manage a given school district, should it be necessary.
As proposed, S.B. 1825 amends current law relating to the period of time allowed for appointment of a board of managers for a school district.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.112, Education Code, by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(e) Requires the board of managers, except as otherwise provided by Subsection (f), at the direction of the commissioner of education (commissioner) but not later than the second anniversary of the date the board of managers of a district was appointed, to order an election of members of the district board of trustees.
(f) Authorizes the commissioner, if, before the second anniversary of the date the board of managers of a district was appointed, the commissioner determines that insufficient progress has been made toward improving the academic or financial performance of the district, to extend the authority of the board of managers for a period of up to two additional years.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.