Texas House Bill HB2400

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to treatment under the public school accountability system of an open-enrollment charter school that is operated by a juvenile board and that focuses on juvenile justice or corrections.

Impact

With this legislation, the inclusion of charter schools operated by juvenile boards will be explicitly recognized in the Education Code of Texas, enhancing their operations under the public school accountability system. The impact of the bill would ensure that students in these specialized charter schools are reported academically as if they were in their assigned public schools, thus focusing on their accountability to meet academic standards. This could potentially result in improved educational resources and support for students in the juvenile justice system who are often at risk of academic failure.

Summary

House Bill 2400 aims to establish a framework for the treatment of open-enrollment charter schools that are specifically operated by juvenile boards and focus on juvenile justice or corrections within the public school accountability system. The bill seeks to enhance the educational outcomes for students in these schools by ensuring they perform at or above grade level. The proposed legislation mandates that the schools, in agreement with the educational commissioner, develop an accountability system aligned with existing state educational standards to track student progress effectively.

Contention

While the bill generally targets the improvement of education for juvenile offenders, potential points of contention may arise regarding the standards of accountability set for these schools compared to traditional public schools. Critics may argue about the adequacy of these accountability measures and whether they might allow for a lower expectation of educational performance in a system where students typically face significant challenges. Moreover, discussions about funding and resources for such specialized schools could also play a role in the broader debate surrounding this bill.