Texas House Bill HB228

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to accountability and standards for districts of innovation.

Impact

The implementation of HB228 is expected to have a significant impact on the landscape of education districts across Texas. By tightening the eligibility requirements for districts of innovation, the bill ensures that only those districts demonstrating acceptable performance ratings will have access to the benefits associated with this designation. This change aims to uphold educational quality and financial responsibility without sacrificing the innovative approaches that districts may wish to pursue in their educational programming.

Summary

HB228 amends the Education Code to outline new accountability and eligibility standards for school districts seeking designation as districts of innovation in Texas. The bill establishes criteria that a school district must satisfy to achieve this designation, emphasizing not only academic performance metrics but also financial accountability. The commissioner of education is tasked with adopting objective standards that will be posted online for public access, thereby enhancing transparency in the process of granting such designations.

Contention

Some debate surrounding the bill focuses on the balance between innovation and accountability in education. Proponents argue that higher standards will lead to improved educational outcomes, while critics contend that these criteria may unnecessarily restrict schools' flexibility to design programs tailored to their communities. Additionally, there may be concern regarding the administrative burden placed on districts to meet the revised standards, potentially impacting their operational capabilities.

Notable_points

An important aspect of the bill is the requirement for public engagement in the adoption of local innovation plans. Districts must ensure that final versions of proposed plans are available for public viewing for at least 30 days prior to board voting, fostering community involvement in education decisions. This requirement seeks to hold districts accountable to their stakeholders while promoting transparency through community dialogue in educational innovation.