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HB 188 Hochberg / Van de Putte
Revises the textbook proclamation process so that the proclamation is referred to by the year in which the textbooks are to be issued, rather than the year in which the request for production is made. Provides requirements for a mid-term adoption process. Any given adoption cycle must be limited to the subject areas that are affordable with the anticipated funding available. Provides a process for adopting supplemental textbooks that are not on the conforming or nonconforming list and are not designed to serve as the sole textbook for the course. Allows districts and charter schools to receive textbook credits for books less expensive than the established cost limit. Half of the credit goes to the state textbook fund and the other half to the district or charter school to apply toward additional textbooks.
HB 314 Eissler / Van de Putte
Authorizes parents to request that multiple birth siblings be placed in the same classroom or in different classrooms. The request must be honored unless the placement is determined to be disruptive or would require additional classes. Schools can recommend appropriate placement.
HB 566 Hamilton / Williams
Allows a school board to adopt a policy requiring attendance until the end of the school year for a student who is voluntarily attending school after the age of 18; however, current laws regarding parental responsibility for student attendance do not apply.
HB 708 Puente / Uresti
Changes the date for Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools from the week in which November 11 falls to the week in which September 17 falls.
HB 1137 Hochberg / Zaffirini
Allows students between 21 and 26 years of age to attend public school to complete graduation requirements. If a student between 21-26 years of age engages in behavior that would otherwise result in placement in an AEP, the student will not be placed in an AEP but will have admission revoked. A student over 21 years of age who had not attended school in the last three school years cannot be placed in a classroom setting, cafeteria, or school activity with a student who is age 18 or younger. Allows a student between 21-26 years of age who attends school less than 90% but at least 75% of the required days to receive credit if the student completes a plan approved by the school's principal.
HB 1250 Howard, Charlie / Patrick, Dan
Amends the eligibility requirements for certain higher education scholarship and loan programs so that home school graduates are eligible.
HB 1563 Bolton / Shapleigh
Requires districts, if requested by the student's parent, to issue a diploma posthumously to a student who was in 12th grade in the district during the 2005-06 school and who was the victim of criminal homicide during that school year.
HB 1844 Howard, Charlie / Janek
Requires a school district to allow home-schooled students to participate in the PSAT/NMSQT or a college advanced placement test offered by the district, and requires that notice be provided to home-schooled students about the dates on which the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered and which districts will be administering the testing.
HB 2411 Strama / Ogden
Provides school districts with the option of using an RFP (request for proposal) process for selecting a bank depository.
HB 3678 Howard, Charlie / Williams
Provides that districts must treat a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, in the same manner that the district treats a student's voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject and may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint. Specifically allows for the expression of religious viewpoints in classroom assignments: “Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions….Students may not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work.”
Requires districts to adopt a policy establishing a limited public forum for all student speakers during any school event at which a student is to speak publicly. The district must provide the forum in a manner that does not discriminate against a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, develop a method for selecting student speakers for school events and graduation ceremonies, ensure that a student does not use obscene, vulgar, lewd or indecent language; and state in writing, orally, or both, that the student speech does not reflect the endorsement, position, or expression of the school district.
Note: There is currently some uncertainty and controversy about these provisions dealing with school district policies on student speaking.
Students would be able to organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and “see you at the pole” gatherings. Religious groups must be given access to school facilities and permission to make announcements on the same basis as other non-curricular groups.
HB 3826 Morrison / Zaffirini
Adds to current requirements regarding eligibility for the 10% required admission rule for Texas public institutions of higher education. In addition to graduating in the top 10%, a student must complete the recommended or advanced high school program (or equivalent), or satisfy the ACT college readiness benchmark or score at least a 1,500 on the SAT. An exception to completion of the recommended or advanced program is available where the student’s school did not offer the required courses. A student who is the child of a peace officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty and who meets minimum requirements must also be admitted to a Texas public institution of higher education.
HJR 19 Branch / Carona
Proposes a constitutional amendment regarding record votes. The amendment would require the Texas House and Senate to take record votes on final passage of a bill or resolution that is not purely ceremonial or honorary. An exception may be made for a bill or resolution of local impact. Record votes must also be taken on concurrence with the other house’s amendments and on adoption of a conference committee report. Record votes must be made available on the Internet for at least two years.
This amendment to the Texas Constitution passed in the Nov. 7 2007 election.
SB 158 Seliger / Eissler
Adds educational diagnosticians to the list of education professionals who must be certified, grandfathering uncertified educational diagnosticians who are currently employed, only for as long as they work for the same district. Educational diagnosticians are exempted from the minimum service time requirements that are required of other educators.
SB 1161 Jackson, Mike / Smith, Wayne
Increases the time frame required for a school district to report to authorities from seven to 10 days, if a student has not attended school on 10 or more days without an excuse.
SB 1433 Van de Putte / Rose
Creates the Employers for Education Excellence Award to honor employers that encourage and support employees who actively participate in school activities, as follows: “bronze” for an employer who implements a policy to encourage and support employees who attend parent-teacher conferences; “silver” for an employer who meets the bronze criterion and also implements a policy to encourage and support employees who volunteer in school activities; and “gold” for an employer who meets the silver requirements and also implements a policy to encourage and support employees who participate in student mentoring programs. Employers receiving an award will be presented a suitable certificate.
SB 1713 Eltife / Patrick, Diane
Requires a county or school district to allow a parent to designate a grandparent's residence or child-care facility for the purpose of accessing transportation to and from the child's school if the location is on an approved route.
SB 1912 Shapleigh / Haggerty
Provides that SBEC can issue a temporary certificate to teachers from out-of-state who have not yet passed the certification exam(s); the term of the temporary certificate may not be less than one year for a teacher in a district experiencing increased student enrollment due to military base closures.
Reviewed: 01/08/08
