Texas House Bill HB948

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium.

Impact

If enacted, HB 948 has the potential to significantly alter regulations concerning student assessment and school accountability in Texas. The bill promotes the idea of using alternative methods to evaluate student performance and learning outcomes beyond traditional testing. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for participant campuses to operate with a degree of local control that can adapt to the specific needs of their communities, potentially leading to more tailored educational experiences for students.

Summary

House Bill 948 aims to establish and improve the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium, which focuses on enhancing student learning through innovative approaches in educational standards and assessment practices. The bill proposes to amend the Education Code to allow for more flexibility in educational structures, facilitate the sharing of best practices among participating schools, and adjust accountability measures to better align with the unique goals of consortium members. Effective implementation of the bill is intended to promote educational excellence and foster an environment conducive to advanced learning methodologies.

Contention

While the bill presents various opportunities for educational innovation, it is expected to encounter debates surrounding local control versus state oversight. Supporters of the bill argue that it will address important achievement gaps and enhance educational standards through increased flexibility. However, critics may raise concerns about the potential dilution of state educational standards and accountability measures. Implementing a new system of evaluations and assessments could also be challenged on the grounds of equity and fairness, particularly in regard to how outcomes will be measured across different school districts.