BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1517
86R8627 JES-D	By: Johnson
	Education
	4/10/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under Section 29.908, Education Code, the commissioner of education (commissioner) must establish and administer early college education programs. School districts statewide have pursued early college education models to improve postsecondary opportunities for all students. Early college high schools (ECHSs), as part of the early college education program, are available to students in grades 9-12 who are:

(i) "at risk of dropping out of school," as defined by Section 29.081, Education Code or

(ii) wish to accelerate the completion of high school.

Section 29.908, Education Code, clearly enumerates that ECHSs are available for any student who is at risk of dropping out of school, as expressly defined by the Education Code, or wishes to accelerate the completion of high school. 

S.B. 1517 clarifies that the commissioner may not refuse to designate a high school campus as an ECHS, revoke, or refuse to renew a campus's designation as an ECHSs on the basis of the percentage of educationally disadvantaged students enrolled at the high school campus reported through the federal PEIMS. Having individual schools mirror district racial demographics undermines the purpose of early college high schools. S.B. 1517 reinforces the Education Code, which states that these schools are designed for:

(i) at risk students; or

(ii) students who wish to accelerate courses of study.

As proposed, S.B. 1517 amends current law relating to the designation of a public high school by the Texas Education Agency as an early college high school.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 29.908, Education Code, by adding Subsection (c-1) to prohibit the commissioner of education from refusing to designate a high school campus as an early college high school or revoking or refusing to renew a campus's designation as an early college high school on the basis of the percentage of educationally disadvantaged students enrolled at the high school campus reported through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.