88R1181 JES-F
By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1781
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to evaluation under the state accountability system of
school district campuses that enroll certain students who receive
special education services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.0547 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.0547. EVALUATING SPECIALIZED SUPPORT CAMPUSES. (a)
In this section, "specialized support campus" means a school
district campus that:
(1) has a campus identification number;
(2) serves students enrolled in any grade level at
which state assessment instruments are administered; and
(3) has a student enrollment in which:
(A) at least 90 percent of students receive
special education services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; and
(B) a significant percentage of the students
required to take an assessment instrument under Section 39.023:
(i) take an alternative assessment
instrument under Section 39.023(b) or (b-1); and
(ii) are unable to provide an authentic
academic response on that assessment instrument.
(b) The commissioner, in consultation with administrators
of specialized support campuses, teachers at specialized support
campuses, parents and guardians of students enrolled at specialized
support campuses, and other stakeholders, by rule shall establish
appropriate accountability guidelines under this chapter for use by
a specialized support campus in developing an alternative
accountability plan under Subsection (c) based on the specific
student population served by the campus. The commissioner shall
provide for public notice and comment in adopting rules under this
subsection.
(c) A specialized support campus may develop and submit to
the commissioner for approval an alternative accountability plan
tailored to the student population served by the campus, based on
the guidelines established under Subsection (b). The commissioner
may approve the alternative accountability plan only if the plan:
(1) follows the guidelines established under
Subsection (b); and
(2) complies with applicable federal law.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if the
commissioner approves an alternative accountability plan developed
by a specialized support campus under Subsection (c), the
commissioner shall determine, report, and consider the performance
of students enrolled at the campus using that plan.
(e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commissioner shall
submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and the standing legislative committees
with primary jurisdiction over public education a report on the
effectiveness of this section in evaluating specialized support
campuses and any recommendations for legislative or other action.
(f) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.