Texas Senate Bill SB2179

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the termination of employment by school districts of district or campus administrators who exempt students from administration of statewide assessment instruments under certain circumstances.

Impact

The bill is expected to impact education law directly by reinforcing the standards for assessment administration within Texas schools. By tying the employment of administrators to their exemption decisions, it aims to discourage potentially manipulative practices that could misrepresent student performance levels and overall school effectiveness. This could promote a more accurate reflection of educational outcomes across the state, which is crucial for policy-making and resource allocation in education.

Summary

SB2179 aims to address the issue of administrators within school districts exempting students from statewide assessment instruments. Specifically, it proposes the termination of employment for district or campus administrators who are found to grant exemptions primarily to inflate the percentage of students who perform well on assessments. The bill provides a procedural framework for investigations into such exemptions, mandating an inquiry by the agency's office of inspector general if an unusually high number or percentage of exemptions is identified. This is to ensure accountability in the assessment process and uphold the integrity of statewide educational metrics.

Contention

Despite its intentions, SB2179 may encounter contention from educators and administrators who could view the bill as an overreach. Critics might argue that the bill fails to consider legitimate reasons for exemptions and could penalize administrators unfairly for decisions made in the best interest of individual student needs. The potential for subjective interpretation of what constitutes an 'unusual' number of exemptions could also raise concerns about due process and the criteria used for investigations, leading to debate over the bill's fairness and practicality in application.