Bill Text: TX HB1781 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to evaluation under the state accountability system of school district campuses that enroll certain students who receive special education services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-07 - Referred to Public Education [HB1781 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB1781-Introduced.html
  88R1181 JES-F
 
  By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1781
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to evaluation under the state accountability system of
  school district campuses that enroll certain students who receive
  special education services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.0547 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0547.  EVALUATING SPECIALIZED SUPPORT CAMPUSES. (a)
  In this section, "specialized support campus" means a school
  district campus that:
               (1)  has a campus identification number;
               (2)  serves students enrolled in any grade level at
  which state assessment instruments are administered; and
               (3)  has a student enrollment in which:
                     (A)  at least 90 percent of students receive
  special education services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; and
                     (B)  a significant percentage of the students
  required to take an assessment instrument under Section 39.023:
                           (i)  take an alternative assessment
  instrument under Section 39.023(b) or (b-1); and
                           (ii)  are unable to provide an authentic
  academic response on that assessment instrument.
         (b)  The commissioner, in consultation with administrators
  of specialized support campuses, teachers at specialized support
  campuses, parents and guardians of students enrolled at specialized
  support campuses, and other stakeholders, by rule shall establish
  appropriate accountability guidelines under this chapter for use by
  a specialized support campus in developing an alternative
  accountability plan under Subsection (c) based on the specific
  student population served by the campus. The commissioner shall
  provide for public notice and comment in adopting rules under this
  subsection.
         (c)  A specialized support campus may develop and submit to
  the commissioner for approval an alternative accountability plan
  tailored to the student population served by the campus, based on
  the guidelines established under Subsection (b). The commissioner
  may approve the alternative accountability plan only if the plan:
               (1)  follows the guidelines established under
  Subsection (b); and
               (2)  complies with applicable federal law.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if the
  commissioner approves an alternative accountability plan developed
  by a specialized support campus under Subsection (c), the
  commissioner shall determine, report, and consider the performance
  of students enrolled at the campus using that plan.
         (e)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the commissioner shall
  submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
  house of representatives, and the standing legislative committees
  with primary jurisdiction over public education a report on the
  effectiveness of this section in evaluating specialized support
  campuses and any recommendations for legislative or other action.
         (f)  This section expires September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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