Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB14 by Taylor, Larry (Relating to empowering the parents of students to petition for the reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure of low-performing public school campuses.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would permit parents of students attending a school with an unacceptable performance rating for two consecutive school years to petition the Commissioner of Education for reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure. The bill would require the Commissioner to order the action requested by the petition if signed by the parents of a majority of students enrolled at the campus.
The bill would require that the Commissioner verify the signatures on the petition and determine whether it has been signed by the required number of parents. If the Commissioner determines that the petition's signatures do not meet the required threshold, the bill would allow any petitioner to contest the determination by filing a petition for review at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) within 30 days. The bill would require SOAH to conduct a hearing and receive evidence necessary to make a final determination regarding the Commissioner's determination.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) indicates there would be minimal costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill. However, this analysis assumes that TEA could absorb these costs within existing resources. The State Office of Administrative Hearings indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
Local Government Impact
Campuses could incur additional costs if required to undergo reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure. These costs would be anticipated to vary considerably amongst campuses.
Source Agencies:
360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 701 Central Education Agency