Bill Text: TX SB688 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the development of a special education services matrix.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-11 - Referred to Education [SB688 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB688-Introduced.html
87R7162 CXP-F | ||
By: Lucio | S.B. No. 688 |
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relating to the development of a special education services matrix. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 29.0012 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 29.0012. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES MATRIX. (a) The | ||
commissioner shall develop and periodically update materials for | ||
use in evaluating the special education services provided to a | ||
student under this subchapter, including: | ||
(1) a special education services matrix that: | ||
(A) identifies categories for special education | ||
services; | ||
(B) assigns intensity levels for the services in | ||
each category; and | ||
(C) produces an aggregate score to assign to each | ||
student enrolled in a special education program under this | ||
subchapter based on the intensity level of services the student | ||
requires across the categories; and | ||
(2) a handbook for using the special education | ||
services matrix to assist school districts in determining the | ||
nature and intensity levels of the special education services | ||
provided to a student under this subchapter. | ||
(b) In developing the materials under Subsection (a), the | ||
commissioner shall: | ||
(1) review and adapt, as appropriate, special | ||
education services matrixes used by other states; and | ||
(2) consult with stakeholders, including: | ||
(A) public school finance experts; | ||
(B) directors of school district special | ||
education programs; | ||
(C) superintendents of school districts; | ||
(D) public school campus administrators; | ||
(E) teachers certified in special education; | ||
(F) teachers certified in general education; | ||
(G) providers of special services that are | ||
described as "related services" under Section 29.002(2); | ||
(H) representatives of advocacy organizations | ||
with an interest in special education; | ||
(I) parents of students receiving special | ||
education services under this subchapter; and | ||
(J) any other person or organization the | ||
commissioner considers appropriate. | ||
(c) The commissioner of education shall develop a proposal | ||
for a method of funding for special education services based on the | ||
special education matrix developed under Subsection (a). The | ||
proposal must include: | ||
(1) recommendations to the legislature for changes to | ||
the public school finance system necessary to transition the | ||
financing of special education services provided by school | ||
districts from the special education allotment under Section 49.102 | ||
to an allotment based on the nature and intensity levels of the | ||
special education services provided by districts; and | ||
(2) a transition plan for implementing the | ||
recommendations under Subdivision (1), including a recommended | ||
timeline for implementation. | ||
(d) The commissioner shall confer with the Legislative | ||
Budget Board to develop the proposal under Subsection (c). | ||
(e) Not later than September 1, 2022, the commissioner shall | ||
submit written or electronic copies of the materials developed | ||
under Subsections (a) and (c) to the lieutenant governor, the | ||
speaker of the house of representatives, and the members of the | ||
standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over | ||
public education, and shall provide revised materials as soon as | ||
practicable after each periodic update of the materials. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |