With the beginning of school approaching, we thought it would be a good time to highlight public education bills passed by the 84th Legislature that apply in the 2016-2017 school year.
- HB 4, Relating to prekindergarten, including a high quality prekindergarten grant program provided by public school districts.
Section 29.167(b), Education Code, requiring a prekindergarten teacher to have been awarded a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, applies beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.
- HB 2293, Relating to the certification by the comptroller to the commissioner of education of the taxable value of property in each school district.
"The changes in reporting will not affect reporting requirements until the 2016-17 school year." Briefing Book on Public Education Legislation, 84th Texas Legislative Session, Texas Education Agency, July 2015
- HB 2610, Relating to the minimum number of minutes of instruction for students to be provided by public school districts and the scheduling of the last day of school for students by public school districts.
"Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, school districts and charter schools will be required to submit calendars showing the amount of time that school was held each day, along with any waiver minutes granted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through the summer data submission." House Bill 2610: Frequently Asked Questions, Version 4, Texas Education Agency, February 9, 2016
- HB 2804, Relating to evaluation of public school performance.
Section 39.054(a), Education Code, Methods and Standards for Evaluating Performance, text of subsection effective on September 1, 2016, relating to school district and campus performance ratings.
- SB 507, Relating to the placement and use of video cameras in self-contained classrooms or other settings providing special education services.
Section 29.022, Education Code, Video Surveillance of Special Education Settings, applies beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
For a more comprehensive list of education bills, search for bills in the 84th Legislature under the subjects of Education--Primary & Secondary on Texas Legislature Online.
Additional resources on public education legislation and interim committee charges include:
- Briefing Book on Public Education Legislation, 84th Texas Legislative Session, Texas Education Agency, July 2015
- Highlights of the 84th Legislature, Volume 1 (Education - Public), Senate Research Center
- Highlights of the 84th Legislature, Volume 2, Senate Research Center
- Interim Charges, House Committee on Public Education
- Interim Charges, Senate Committee on Education
- Legislative Reports to the 84th Texas Legislature, Texas Education Agency
- Legislative Wrap-Ups, 84th Regular Session: Education, Legislative Reference Library
- Summary of Enactments: 84th Legislature (Public Education), Texas Legislative Council
Cover image by flickr user Province of British Columbia.
