HBA-TBM C.S.H.B. 1144 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1144
By: Grusendorf
Public Education
3/27/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1993, the Texas Legislature mandated the creation of the Texas public
school accountability system to accredit school districts and rate schools.
The Texas school accountability system has gained acclaim as one of the
best in the nation, but the system can be improved.  C.S.H.B. 1144
authorizes participation in multistate efforts to develop voluntary
standardized assessment instruments and establishes new ratings for schools
and districts. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in
SECTION 2 (Section 39.023, Education Code) and SECTION 3 (Section 39.0721,
Education Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1144 amends the Education Code relating to public school
accountability.   

Coordination of Records

The bill requires the commissioner of education and the commissioner of
higher education to ensure that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) coordinate and
standardize records relating to student performance to permit TEA and THECB
to match individual student records so that a student's academic
performance may be assessed throughout the student's educational career.  

Voluntary Standardized Assessment Instruments

The bill authorizes the commissioner to participate in multistate efforts
to develop voluntary standardized end-of-course assessment instruments.
The bill authorizes the commissioner, by rule, to require a school district
to administer such assessment instruments.  It also requires the admission,
review, and dismissal committee of a special education student to determine
whether any modifications or exemptions are necessary for the student.  The
bill requires TEA to release the questions and answer keys to each
assessment instrument after the last time the instrument is administered
for a school year.  The bill requires the commissioner to develop a
standardized end-of-course assessment instrument for Algebra I.  The
commissioner by rule may require a school district to administer the
instrument.  The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in
a special education program is required to determine whether any allowable
modification is necessary in administering to the student the instrument or
whether the student should be exempted. 

Voluntary Gold Performance Rating Program

The bill requires the commissioner, in consultation with an advisory
committee appointed by the commissioner, to develop a voluntary gold
performance rating program administered by the TEA.  The bill  specifies
the criteria to be used to determine voluntary gold performance ratings.
The bill requires the commissioner to appoint the advisory committee no
later than March 1, 2002 and to adopt any rules necessary for
implementation and administration of the program no later than March 30,
2006. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1144 differs from the original by requiring the commissioner of
education to adopt a standardized end-of-course assessment instrument for
Algebra I and setting forth provisions for the administration of the
instrument.  The substitute removes provisions relating to a declaration of
emergency status at lowperforming campuses and campus bonus allotments.