Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB579 by Burns (Relating to procedures for the alternative assessment or exemption from assessment of certain public school students who receive special education services and alternative accountability plans for certain campuses serving students who receive special education services.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB579, As Engrossed : a negative impact of ($6,303,242) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
($3,198,089)
2025
($3,105,153)
2026
($3,105,153)
2027
($3,105,153)
2028
($3,105,153)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2023
2024
($3,198,089)
12.0
2025
($3,105,153)
12.0
2026
($3,105,153)
12.0
2027
($3,105,153)
12.0
2028
($3,105,153)
12.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would allow parents of students with significant cognitive disabilities to request exemption from the administration of an alternative assessment with approval from the admission, review, and dismissal committee.
The bill would require the commissioner, in consultation with stakeholders, to develop an alternative assessment method that includes progress on the goals identified in the student's individualized education plan.
The bill would also define a specialized support campus and require the commissioner to establish accountability guidelines in developing an alternative accountability plan in collaboration with stakeholders.
The bill would require that the commissioner determine, report, and consider the performance of students enrolled at the campus using the approved plan, and to report on effectiveness. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) would be required to ensure certain students receive applicable accommodations during the administration of state assessments.
Methodology
According to TEA, the development of an alternative assessment method required by the bill would require $1,687,263 in funding in each fiscal year. The agency's estimate assumes that the bill would require the Commissioner, in consultation with stakeholders, to establish accountability guidelines in developing an alternative accountability plan for specialized support campuses. The agency estimates the cost of the Specialized Campus Accountability Council at $97,720 in fiscal year 2024, including for the cost of travel, lodging, meeting room rentals, and supplies. The agency estimates that 3.0 full-time equivalents (FTEs) would be required in the 2024–25 biennium to implement these provisions of the bill, and that these 3.0 FTEs would continue in subsequent years. These positions, an education specialist, programmer, and director, would support elements of the bill including performance monitoring, reporting, planning, and development of guidelines.
To ensure students receive appropriate accommodations during state testing, TEA indicates an additional 7 education specialists and a director would be required to develop guidance, conduct random compliance reviews, and address parent complaints. TEA also indicates that a program specialist would be required to support implementation of the bill's provisions. The total cost for these 12 FTEs, including salaries and wages, benefits, payroll contributions, and operating expenses, would be $1.4 million per fiscal year.
Technology
TEA estimates that the cost to host a secure website for district submissions of accommodation information would be $54,000 per fiscal year.
Local Government Impact
This bill would require districts to submit alternative assessment results for use in accountability. The bill would also require the commissioner to adopt appropriate guidelines for specialized support campus alternative accountability plans. The alternative accountability plans could mean additional data collections, which could come at a cost for the campuses and districts.
Source Agencies:
701 Texas Education Agency, 771 School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 772 School for the Deaf