Relating to public school accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements.
Impact
The proposed modifications will primarily affect how school districts operate within the parameters laid out by the Texas Education Agency. Notably, the bill emphasizes the importance of data integrity and accurate reporting as it relates to student performance assessments. Additionally, it addresses the structure of curriculum requirements for high school programs, asserting that students must complete specified courses to graduate, which reflects a trend toward increasing academic rigor at the secondary education level.
Summary
Senate Bill 3 seeks to amend provisions related to public school accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements in Texas. The bill introduces changes to the Education Code, aiming to enhance the educational framework by establishing stricter measures of accountability for school districts and campuses. This includes updating accreditation processes, ensuring compliance with financial accountability standards, and enhancing the evaluation systems for educators based on student achievement metrics.
Contention
One of the notable points of contention surrounding SB3 is the balance between accountability and local autonomy in educational governance. Critics argue that the enforcement of stringent compliance measures may place undue pressure on schools, particularly in disadvantaged areas, where resources and support systems are already limited. Proponents, however, contend that high standards and accountability measures are crucial for ensuring that all Texas students receive a quality education that prepares them for post-secondary success.
Relating to public school accountability, including the assessment of academic performance, and district and campus performance standards and sanctions.
Relating to eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as indicators of achievement under the public school accountability system.
Relating to accelerated instruction provided for public school students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments, indicators under the public school accountability system, and performance standards in public schools.
Relating to academic distinction designations under the public school accountability system and the career and technology allotment under the Foundation School Program.
Relating to primary and secondary education, including the certification, compensation, and health coverage of certain public school employees, the public school finance system, special education in public schools, the establishment of an education savings account program, measures to support the education of public school students that include certain educational grant programs, reading instruction, and early childhood education, the provision of virtual education, and public school accountability.
Relating to the administration of certain assessment instruments, the accountability rating system for assessing campus and district performance, public school career and technology education programs, and an extracurricular and cocurricular allotment under the Foundation School Program.
Relating to the administration of assessment instruments in public schools, eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation, and the temporary suspension of certain accountability determinations for a school district or campus in a school year in which the operations of the district or campus are disrupted as a result of a declared disaster.
Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability.
Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability.