85R7071 PAM-D

By: Lucio S.B. No. 531

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of individual graduation committee determinations for certain public school accountability and high school graduation purposes and to the use of other alternative methods for certain high school graduation purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 12.104(b-2), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b-2) An open-enrollment charter school is subject to the requirement to establish an individual graduation committee under Section 28.0258. [This subsection expires September 1, 2017.]

SECTION 2. Section 28.025(c-6), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c-6) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0258. [This subsection expires September 1, 2017.]

SECTION 3. Effective September 1, 2018, Section 28.0258(e), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) To be eligible to graduate and receive a high school diploma under this section, a student must successfully complete the curriculum requirements required for high school graduation[:

[(1)] identified by the State Board of Education under Section 28.025(a)[; or

[(2) as otherwise provided by the transition plan adopted by the commissioner under Section 28.025(h)].

SECTION 4. Section 39.025(a-2), Education Code, as added by Chapter 5 (S.B. 149), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows:

(a-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student who has failed to perform satisfactorily on end-of-course assessment instruments in the manner provided under this section may receive a high school diploma if the student has qualified for graduation under Section 28.0258. [This subsection expires September 1, 2017.]

SECTION 5. Section 39.025(a-3), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a-3) A student who, after retaking an end-of-course assessment instrument for Algebra I or English II, has failed to perform satisfactorily as required by Subsection (a), but who receives a score of proficient on the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) diagnostic assessment for the corresponding subject for which the student failed to perform satisfactorily on the end-of-course assessment instrument satisfies the requirement concerning the Algebra I or English II end-of-course assessment, as applicable. [This subsection expires September 1, 2017.]

SECTION 6. Section 39.053, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-3) to read as follows:

(c-3) The commissioner by rule shall determine a method by which the determination of an individual graduation committee established under Section 28.0258 that a student is qualified to graduate may be included as satisfactory performance on an assessment instrument for purposes of Subsection (c)(1) in determining the performance rating of a school district or campus under Section 39.054. The commissioner shall use the method determined under this subsection in determining the performance rating of a school district or campus under Section 39.054, provided that the commissioner obtains any necessary waiver from the application of any conflicting federal law or regulation. For purposes of using the method determined under this subsection, the commissioner shall seek a waiver from the application of any conflicting federal law or regulation as a result of the use of the method in determining the performance rating of a school district or campus under Section 39.054.

SECTION 7. Sections 28.0258(l) and 28.0259(e), Education Code, are repealed.

SECTION 8. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.