Senate Bills Moved from Committee to Local & Uncontested Calendar

SB 79 - 

In 2009, the 81st Legislature unanimously approved S.B. 2033, prohibiting districts from requiring teachers to assign minimum grades without regard to a student's quality of work and clarifying that this policy may allow students a reasonable opportunity for make-up work.  Several school districts misinterpreted this law to apply only to individual assignments and not to cumulative average or report card grades and filed suit against the Texas Education Agency in late 2009.  In spring 2010, a Travis County judge ruled that S.B. 2033 was "not ambiguous" and that it requires districts to eliminate policies prohibiting teachers from giving honest grades on cumulative grade averages and on individual assignments and exams.

S.B. 79 clarifies that minimum grade policies are prohibited for "cumulative averages of grades," as well as for individual assignment and exam grades, and makes the prohibition applicable to any grade a district assigns and to the existing state requirement that districts report grades to parents every 12 weeks or, if performance is unsatisfactory, every three to four weeks.  Finally, it removes references to "classroom teachers" to ensure that this legislation applies to student grades assigned by any teacher.

As proposed, S.B. 79 amends current law relating to the contents and applicability of a school district's grading policy.

*************************************

SB 140 - 

Current law states that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.  Some school districts have misinterpreted credit to mean high school credit for graduation, but credit actually applies to all grade levels (K-12) and all academic disciplines.

As a result of this confusion, the practice of pulling students from fine arts and other enrichment classes for tutoring on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) has become increasingly widespread—sometimes for as much of half or more of the days that the classes are offered.  Students are receiving grades and class credit for courses they do not attend, and they are missing out on the valuable knowledge that these courses provide.

C.S.S.B. 140 will clarify that students may not earn a credit or grade for a class unless they are in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered in all grade levels (K-12).  This bill will help ensure that students are in attendance in class so that the state-mandated Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) is taught and learned effectively and appropriately.

C.S.S.B. 140 amends current law relating to minimum public school attendance for class credit or a grade.

*********************

SB 391 - 

Instead of sending hard copies of textbook "drafts" to the school districts, this bill would require the publishing companies to send the drafts electronically which would save money and eliminate the waste of the hardcover "drafts".

**********************

S.B. 764 - 

prohibits a school board from imposing taxes, issuing bonds, and authorizing the use of school district employees or school district property, money, or other resources to acquire property to build and operate a hotel.  The bill also precludes school boards from entering into any type of lease agreement for hotels.

As proposed, S.B. 764 amends current law relating to a prohibition against use of school district resources for a hotel.

************************

SB 912 - 

Addresses the policies and rights of the Board not renewing a teacher's contract.