Texas Senate Bill SB1020

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the appointment of a board of managers to govern certain school districts with low-performing campuses.

Impact

The bill directly modifies how the Texas education system responds to low-performing schools by establishing a clearer criterion for intervention. Under the new guidelines, the appointment of a board of managers becomes a more deliberate process, potentially allowing schools to implement improvements or turnaround strategies before facing significant governance changes. This may also alleviate concerns regarding the disruption of educational continuity and community trust, as fewer districts may face immediate intervention under the more stringent requirements.

Summary

Senate Bill 1020 focuses on the appointment of a board of managers to oversee school districts exhibiting low performance in educational achievement. Specifically, the bill amends sections of the Education Code to stipulate that a board of managers can only be appointed if at least 15 percent of the campuses within a district receive an unacceptable performance rating. This threshold aims to ensure that intervention occurs in more severe cases of academic underperformance, rather than in instances where a single or few campuses may be struggling.

Contention

However, this change is not without contention. Critics of the bill may argue that the threshold of 15 percent could delay necessary actions for schools that are struggling despite having a lower percentage of underperforming campuses. There is also concern that this measure could inadvertently lead to complacency in addressing educational deficiencies, as districts may not prioritize interventions unless they meet the new threshold, potentially leaving schools in need without adequate support until a critical level of failure is reached.