Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1645

Caption

Relating to public school accountability ratings, including interventions and sanctions administered to a school district or campus assigned a needs improvement rating.

Impact

The legislation significantly revises how performance ratings affect school districts, particularly for those rated at ‘D’ or worse. For instance, the bill mandates that a district or campus rated as such must develop and implement a targeted improvement plan, aiming to provide additional support and resources for schools that struggle to meet educational standards. This bill emphasizes the need for accountability within districts and aims to ensure that all schools provide adequate education to their students.

Summary

SB1645 aims to amend various sections of the Education Code relating to public school accountability ratings, specifically focusing on the interventions and sanctions imposed on school districts or campuses that receive 'needs improvement' ratings. The bill provides a framework to enhance oversight and accountability in public education by establishing clearer criteria for performance ratings and outlining the consequences for underperforming schools. Notably, it classifies a performance rating of 'D' as an unacceptable rating, triggering required interventions by the school commissioner.

Contention

Some points of contention surrounding SB1645 include concerns regarding its potential impact on charter schools and the delegation of powers to the school commissioner. While the bill is intended to enhance educational outcomes, opponents argue that the rigid framework may not adequately consider local contexts or provide sufficient support for underperforming schools. Critics also highlight that the potential threat of sanctions could demotivate educators and staff, fostering a punitive rather than supportive educational environment.

Companion Bills

TX HB3731

Same As Relating to public school accountability ratings, including interventions and sanctions administered to a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or district or school campus assigned an unacceptable performance rating.

Previously Filed As

TX HB4514

Relating to public school accountability, including the assessment of academic performance, and district and campus performance standards and sanctions.

TX HB4691

Relating to public school accountability, including performance standards and sanctions and public high school graduation requirements.

TX HB76

Relating to the consideration of distinction designations in the assignment of district and campus performance ratings under the public school accountability system.

TX HB4812

Relating to permissible accountability interventions for certain school districts with low-performing campuses.

TX HB173

Relating to the consideration of distinction designations in the assignment of district and campus performance ratings under the public school accountability system.

TX HB4402

Relating to the administration of certain assessment instruments, the accountability rating system for assessing campus and district performance, public school career and technology education programs, and an extracurricular and cocurricular allotment under the Foundation School Program.

TX SB2295

Relating to accelerated instruction provided for public school students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments, indicators under the public school accountability system, and performance standards in public schools.

TX HB3517

Relating to public school accountability.

TX SB475

Relating to the inclusion of a school safety domain for evaluating districts and campuses under the public school accountability system.

TX HB4058

Relating to the use of opioid antagonists on the campuses of public and private schools and institutions of higher education and at or in transit to or from off-campus school events.

Similar Bills

TX HB3731

Relating to public school accountability ratings, including interventions and sanctions administered to a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or district or school campus assigned an unacceptable performance rating.

TX HB843

Relating to designations for rating the performance of public school districts and campuses for accountability purposes.

TX SB2265

Relating to the assignment of performance ratings to school districts and school district campuses.

TX SB1365

Relating to public school organization, accountability, and fiscal management.

TX HB3270

Relating to public school organization, accountability, and fiscal management.

TX HB22

Relating to public school accountability.

TX HB645

Relating to authorization for granting, in response to petitions by parents, campus charters for certain public school campuses identified as unacceptable.

TX HB1842

Relating to public school accountability, including the intervention in and sanction of a public school that has received an academically unsuccessful performance rating for at least two consecutive school years and the designation of a school district as a district of innovation.