Relating to the functions of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Impact
The bill explicitly emphasizes the importance of reading at grade level and preparing students for the general education development test. It establishes accountability standards that require juvenile justice educational programs to track student performance, including assessment results in reading and mathematics. Moreover, it obliges the department to maintain a detailed accountability system for tracking funds designated to positively influence youth, thereby reinforcing the connection between funding and program effectiveness.
Summary
House Bill 314 focuses on the functions of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department with a primary aim to improve educational accountability and diversion program effectiveness. This legislation mandates that the department ensure that juvenile justice alternative education programs are accountable for academic and behavioral improvements among their students. A performance assessment report is required to be submitted to the Legislative Budget Board and the governor every two years, which will help evaluate the success of these programs in enhancing student outcomes.
Contention
A significant aspect of HB 314 is its impact on fiscal reporting and accountability measures. The Department is now required to provide detailed reports on financial expenditures related to youth programs, ensuring transparency in how funds are used and their effectiveness. The bill aims to create a more robust oversight model that assesses both the financial and educational outcomes of programs operated by juvenile probation departments. This change may raise discussions on the adequacy of funding levels and the specific uses of resources to maximize positive youth outcomes.