HBA-TBM H.B. 1144 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1144 By: Grusendorf Public Education 7/17/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1993, the Texas Legislature mandated the creation of the Texas public school accountability system to accredit school districts and rate schools. The Texas school accountability system has gained acclaim as one of the best in the nation, but the system can be improved. House Bill 1144 authorizes participation in multistate efforts to develop voluntary standardized assessment instruments and establishes new ratings for schools and districts as well as establishing a master mathematics teacher certification program. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in SECTION 5 (Section 21.411, Education Code), SECTION 8 (Section 29.087, Education Code), SECTION 9 (Section 39.023, Education Code), and SECTION 13 (Section 39.0721, Education Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 1144 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of higher education and the commissioner of education (commissioner) to ensure that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) coordinate and standardize records relating to student performance (Sec. 7.006). The bill requires a school district to ensure that each student entering the ninth grade in the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter enrolls in the courses necessary to complete the recommended or advanced high school program (Sec. 28.025). Mathematics Education The bill requires the commissioner to award to one or more institutions a grant to be used to develop and identify research on and practices that improve mathematics skills acquisition and student learning in mathematics (Sec. 7.058). The bill requires the commissioner to use appropriated funds to help provide a grading service for mathematics homework and examinations and to consider all methods available to distribute mathematics homework assignments (Sec. 7.059). The bill requires the State Board for Educator Certification to establish a master mathematics teacher certification program and sets forth provisions for the issuance of such a certificate (Sec. 21.0482). The State Board of Education (SBOE) is required to propose rules establishing requirements and prescribing an examination for master mathematics teacher certification not later than January 1, 2003 (SEC. 17). The bill requires the commissioner to establish a master mathematics teacher grant program to pay a stipend to master mathematics teachers in high-need campuses beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the administration of the grant program and requires the commissioner to adopt related rules (Sec. 21.411 and SEC. 17). The bill requires the commissioner to develop and make available training materials, teacher training resources, and professional development institutes to assist mathematics teachers (Secs. 21.454 and 21.455). The commissioner is required to develop and make available or contract for the development and dissemination of mathematics assessment instruments to diagnose student mathematics skills (Sec. 28.007). The bill authorizes a school district to provide an intensive after-school or summer program for mathematics instruction and sets forth provisions regarding the creation, administration, and funding of such a program (Sec. 29.087). Standardized Assessment Instruments The bill authorizes the commissioner to participate in multistate efforts to develop voluntary standardized end-of-course assessment instruments. The bill requires TEA to release the questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument after the last time the insturment is administered for a school year. The bill requires the commissioner to develop a standardized end-of-course assessment instrument for Algebra I. The commissioner by rule may require a school district to administer the instruments. The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in a special education program is required to determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to the student the instruments or whether the student should be exempted. The bill sets forth provisions regarding additional modifications of the instruments for a student who is determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder and who is an individual with a disability according to federal law (Sec. 39.023). Before the 2005-2006 school year, TEA is required to field-test assessment instruments for students who have dyslexia. Not later than the 2005-2006 school year, TEA shall adopt or develop and SBOE shall administer those instruments (SEC. 18). Dropout Rates The bill requires performance indicators adopted by the SBOE and the comprehensive biennial report published by TEA to include the dropout rates and district completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12 (Secs. 39.051 and 39.182). The annual performance report published by the board of trustees (board) of each school district is required to include information received from postsecondary institutions regarding first-year college students that graduated from the district (Sec. 39.053). The bill requires the board of each school district to have the district's dropout records audited annually and the report filed with TEA beginning with dropout records for the 2001-2002 school year (Sec. 39.055 and SEC. 19). Not later than February 1, 2002, TEA shall develop and disseminate a training program for public accountants and certified public accountants in auditing public school dropout records (SEC. 20). School District Performance The bill requires the commissioner to develop, not later than June 30, 2002, a gold performance rating program based on enhanced performance to be administered by TEA beginning with the 2001-2002 school year. The bill authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer the program (Sec. 39.0721). The bill sets forth provisions authorizing the commissioner to appoint a board of managers to exercise the powers and duties of the board of trustees of a school district if the district has had a master or management team assigned for a period of one year or more. The provisions regulate the appointments and the activities of the board of managers and provide for the election of a board of trustees for the managed school district (Sec. 39.131). EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.