Texas House Bill HB3281

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to public school accountability.

Impact

The proposed changes are designed to ensure that the performance ratings which dictate the renewal of charters for open-enrollment schools reflect accurate and timely assessments. Under the amended provisions, the first performance rating assigned to a charter holder will not be considered in renewal decisions. This change is intended to prevent premature revocations based on early performance ratings that might not accurately reflect a school's capabilities after a few years of operation.

Summary

House Bill 3281 aims to amend provisions surrounding public school accountability in Texas, specifically addressing the operation and renewal of open-enrollment charter schools. The bill modifies the conditions under which charter holders may have their charters revoked or renewed. It includes stipulations that the commissioner responsible for charter school oversight must consider alternative actions to revocation if certain performance standards are not met, thus providing a potential pathway for charter schools facing compliance issues.

Contention

Discussions around HB 3281 highlight a tension between maintaining accountability for charter schools and allowing them flexibility to improve over time. Proponents believe that the bill could reduce the chances of unjust charter revocations by implementing a review process that considers alternative operational proposals before moving to revoke a charter, thus encouraging improvements without the drastic consequence of shutting down a school. Opponents, however, may argue that this leniency could allow underperforming schools to continue operating at the detriment of students who may not be receiving adequate education.

Administrative review

The bill also includes provisions for a review process by the State Office of Administrative Hearings regarding charter revocations and incorporates protections for charter holders in cases of alleged miscalculation of performance ratings. Such mechanisms ensure that the decisions impacting educational institutions are carried out justly and transparently, potentially appealing to concerns of stakeholders who fear arbitrary decisions in the charter revocation process.