BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 194

By: Bernal

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that if a student in a special education program is unable to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript because the student is administered a modified curriculum, the student is deprived of meaningful graduation choices, and the parties assert that most students with disabilities, with specially designed instruction and accommodations, can meet the graduation standards targeted for all other students. The goal of C.S.H.B. 194 is to ensure that a student who is administered a modified foundation high school program curriculum is able to qualify for an endorsement if the student successfully completes certain additional curriculum requirements.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 194 amends the Education Code to authorize a student who is enrolled in a special education program to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript by successfully completing, with or without modification of the curriculum, the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for the foundation high school program and by successfully completing, without modification of the curriculum, all additional curriculum requirements for that endorsement developed by the SBOE and required under statutory provisions providing for the completion of two additional elective credits and of certain advanced courses for credit in mathematics and science as conditions on earning an endorsement. The bill requires the admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in a special education program to determine whether the student is required to achieve satisfactory performance on an end‑of‑course test to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 194 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c-7) and (c-8) to read as follows: (c-7)  Subject to Subsection (c-8), a student who is enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, may earn an endorsement on the student's transcript by: (1)  successfully completing, with or without modification of the curriculum: (A)  the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a); and (B)  the additional endorsement curriculum requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education under Subsection (c-2); and (2)  successfully completing all curriculum requirements for that endorsement adopted by the State Board of Education: (A)  without modification of the curriculum; or (B)  with modification of the curriculum if the courses are part of a coherent sequence of coursework that is sufficiently rigorous as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee. (c-8)  For purposes of Subsection (c-7), the admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, shall determine whether the student is required to achieve satisfactory performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript.	SECTION 1.  Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c-7) and (c-8) to read as follows: (c-7)  Subject to Subsection (c-8), a student who is enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, may earn an endorsement on the student's transcript by: (1)  successfully completing, with or without modification of the curriculum, the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) for the foundation high school program; and (2)  successfully completing, without modification of the curriculum, all additional curriculum requirements for that endorsement required under Subsections (c-2)(1)(A)(ii), (1)(B)(ii), and (1)(C) and developed by the State Board of Education under Subsection (c-2)(2). (c-8)  For purposes of Subsection (c-7), the admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, shall determine whether the student is required to achieve satisfactory performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript.
SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
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, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.