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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 165

By: Bernal

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been noted that students enrolled in a special education program are unable to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript if the student is administered a modified curriculum and that most students with disabilities, with specially designed instruction and accommodations, can meet the graduation standards targeted for other students. H.B. 165 seeks to ensure that students enrolled in a special education program who are administered a modified curriculum are able to qualify for an endorsement if they successfully complete 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

 

H.B. 165 amends the Education Code to authorize a student enrolled in a special education program to earn an endorsement on the student's transcript by successfully completing the following:

·       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 the additional endorsement curriculum requirements prescribed by the SBOE; and

·       all curriculum requirements for that endorsement adopted by the SBOE without modification of the curriculum or with modification of the curriculum, provided that the modified curriculum is sufficiently rigorous as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee.

 

H.B. 165 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 2019-2020 school year.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.