BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 1500
85R30751 KJE-F	By: Giddings; Guillen (West)
	Education
	5/22/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Interested parties note that the percentage of students who earn an associate degree is not included in the metrics under the state's annual accountability ratings for public school districts and schools even though some Texas high schools help students earn associate degrees. H.B. 1500 gives parents and community members a more accurate portrait of the ability of districts and schools to prepare students for postsecondary education by expanding the indicators of achievement under the public school accountability system.

 

H.B. 1500 amends the Education Code to add the percentage of students who earn an associate degree to the fourth domain of achievement indicators for evaluating the performance of public high school campuses and districts that include those campuses, applicable beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

C.S.H.B. 1500 amends current law relating to the public school accountability system.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 39.053, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.053, Education� Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (c-4) and (g-3), as follows:

 

(c) Requires that school districts (districts) and campuses be evaluated based on five domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this section that include:

 

(1) through (3) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

 

(4) in the fourth domain:

 

(A) for evaluating the performance of high school campuses and districts that include high school campuses:

 

(i) makes no change to this subparagraph;

 

(ii) changes a reference to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to the Every Student Succeeds Act;

 

(iii) through (vii) makes no changes to these subparagraphs;

 

(viii) the percentage of students who have completed an advanced placement (AP) or international baccalaureate (IB) course;

 

(ix) makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(x) makes no changes to this subparagraph;

 

(xi) the percentage of students who successfully completed an OnRamps dual enrollment course;

 

(xii) the percentage of students who have received credit by examination;

 

(xiii) the percentage of students who have been promoted to higher grade levels than the grade levels to which the students would ordinarily be assigned;

 

(xiv) the percentage of students who have earned a diploma after not more than three years of high school attendance; and

 

(xv) the percentage of students who earn an associate degree;

 

(B) for evaluating the performance of middle and junior high school and elementary school campuses and districts that include those campuses:

 

(i) makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(ii) for middle and junior high school campuses:

 

(a) and (b) makes nonsubstantive changes; and

 

(c) the percentage of students in grades seven and eight who complete a pre-AP or pre-IB course; and

 

(iii) the percentage of students who participate in a University Interscholastic League (UIL) A+ academic event; and

 

(C) makes no changes to this paragraph; and

 

(5) makes no changes to this subdivision.

 

(c-4) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner), for purposes of evaluating the performance of a district or campus under Subsection (c), to determine a method by which the performance of a student is attributed greater weight for each school year for a student has been continuously enrolled in the district or at the campus, as applicable.

 

(g-3) Requires the commissioner to adopt rules for computing the percentage of students participating in a UIL A+ academic event under Subsection (c)(4)(B)(iii).

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 39.107, Education Code, by adding Subsections (b-10), (b-11), and (b-12), as follows:

 

(b-10) Requires the commissioner, not later than June 15 of each year, to, in writing, either approve or reject any campus turnaround plan (CTP) prepared and submitted to the commissioner by a district. Requires the commissioner, if the commissioner rejects a CTP, to also send the district an outline of the specific concerns regarding the CTP that resulted in the rejection.

 

(b-11) Requires the district, if the commissioner rejects a CTP, to create a modified CTP with assistance from Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff and submit the modified CTP to the commissioner for approval not later than August 15. Requires the commissioner to notify the district in writing of the commissioner�s decision regarding the modified CTP not later than September 1.

 

(b-12) Prohibits TEA, if TEA assists or offers assistance to a district in modifying a CTP following a rejection under Subsection (b-10), from recommending or requiring participation by the district in certain initiatives.

 

SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning the 2017-2018 school year.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.