Texas Senate Bill SB514

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 12/2/24

Caption

Relating to an annual school district profile report by the Texas Education Agency.

Impact

The implementation of SB514 is expected to have significant implications for public education in Texas. By standardizing the reporting of educational data, stakeholders including parents, educators, and policymakers can access crucial metrics that inform decisions regarding resource allocation, performance assessments, and strategic planning. This could lead to improved educational outcomes as it empowers communities with accurate and current information about their schools.

Summary

SB514, introduced by Senator Kolkhorst, mandates the Texas Education Agency to compile an annual school district profile report. This report is aimed at improving transparency and accessibility of educational data at both the state and local school district levels. It requires the agency to publish a report that includes summary tables based on specific characteristics of school districts, which can be accessed and downloaded by the public. The intent is to provide a comprehensive picture of public education in Texas, enabling stakeholders to better understand educational outcomes across different districts.

Contention

While the bill aims to enhance transparency, it may not be without its challenges. Some potential concerns involve how data will be compiled, the accuracy of the provided reports, and the implications for districts that may not fare well in public assessments. Ensuring that this data is user-friendly and genuinely helpful for parents and educators will be critical to the bill's success. Additionally, there may be discussions about privacy and the extent to which individual student data is exposed in the aggregate reports.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 7. State Organization
  • Section: New Section