TBM C.S.S.B. 646 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 646
By: Bivins
Public Education
4/6/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, school districts are not required to have the district's
dropout records audited annually by an independent accountant.  In
addition, public school dropout rates for grades 9 through 12 are not
itemized.  This information may help the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and
the board of trustees (board) of school districts reduce the rate of
dropouts from Texas schools.  Senate Bill 646 requires each board to have
the school district's dropout rates audited and reported to TEA annually,
and provides that dropout rates and completion rates for grade levels 9
through 12 be compared to state-established standards. 
  
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 646 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees
(board) of each school district to have the district's dropout records
audited annually and the report filed with the Texas Education Agency
(TEA).  The audit and report must meet the minimum requirements and be in
the format prescribed by the commissioner of education (commissioner),
subject to review and comment by the state auditor. TEA is required to
review the reports.  The bill requires the commissioner to notify the board
of any objections, violations, or recommendations the commissioner has to
the report.  If the report reflects that penal laws have been violated, the
commissioner is required to notify the county attorney, district attorney,
or criminal district attorney, as appropriate, and the attorney general.
The commissioner is entitled to access to all district records the
commissioner considers necessary and appropriate for the review, analysis,
and approval of the reports (Sec. 39.055).   

The bill provides that dropout rates include dropout rates and district
completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12 for purposes of comparing
performance on academic excellence indicators to state-established
standards (Sec. 39.051).   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.