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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to evaluation under the state accountability system of |
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school district campuses that enroll certain students who receive |
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special education services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.0547 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.0547. EVALUATING SPECIALIZED SUPPORT CAMPUSES. (a) |
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In this section, "specialized support campus" means a school |
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district campus that: |
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(1) has a campus identification number; |
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(2) serves students enrolled in any grade level at |
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which state assessment instruments are administered; and |
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(3) has a student enrollment in which: |
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(A) at least 90 percent of students receive |
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special education services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; and |
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(B) a significant percentage of the students |
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required to take an assessment instrument under Section 39.023: |
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(i) take an alternative assessment |
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instrument under Section 39.023(b) or (b-1); and |
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(ii) are unable to provide an authentic |
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academic response on that assessment instrument. |
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(b) The commissioner, in consultation with administrators |
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of specialized support campuses, teachers at specialized support |
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campuses, parents and guardians of students enrolled at specialized |
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support campuses, and other stakeholders, by rule shall establish |
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appropriate accountability guidelines under this chapter for use by |
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a specialized support campus in developing an alternative |
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accountability plan under Subsection (c) based on the specific |
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student population served by the campus. The commissioner shall |
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provide for public notice and comment in adopting rules under this |
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subsection. |
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(c) A specialized support campus may develop and submit to |
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the commissioner for approval an alternative accountability plan |
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tailored to the student population served by the campus, based on |
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the guidelines established under Subsection (b). The commissioner |
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may approve the alternative accountability plan only if the plan: |
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(1) follows the guidelines established under |
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Subsection (b); and |
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(2) complies with applicable federal law. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if the |
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commissioner approves an alternative accountability plan developed |
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by a specialized support campus under Subsection (c), the |
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commissioner shall determine, report, and consider the performance |
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of students enrolled at the campus using that plan. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commissioner shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the standing legislative committees |
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with primary jurisdiction over public education a report on the |
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effectiveness of this section in evaluating specialized support |
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campuses and any recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |