Texas House Bill HB1347

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to a study on the performance and operations of public schools that operate on a year-round system.

Impact

The findings of this study aim to provide insights into the effectiveness of year-round schooling in Texas, particularly in terms of student achievement as measured by state assessments and standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. The comparisons drawn from this research could potentially influence policy decisions regarding school calendars statewide. The study seeks to elaborate on how the timing of academic schedules aligns with state testing dates, which may play a pivotal role in strategic planning for educational institutions.

Summary

House Bill 1347 pertains to the investigation of the performance and operational structure of public schools operating on a year-round system in Texas. The bill mandates a study to be conducted by the Texas Education Agency, which will focus on identifying the schools that utilize this innovative calendar approach and their respective performance metrics. Specifically, the study will look into standard assessment results and compare them to those from traditional academic calendars.

Contention

Notably, the bill includes a deadline for the completion of this study, by December 1, 2016. This timeframe emphasizes the urgency some legislators may feel regarding the need for empirical data on educational strategies. However, there may be questions surrounding the operational efficiency of year-round schools and whether their benefits truly outweigh those offered by traditional schooling systems. Stakeholders may have differing opinions on the necessity of such studies and the best approaches to enhance educational outcomes across the state.