Part 2.
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
Chapter 97.
PLANNING AND ACCREDITATION
Subchapter AA. ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1.
STANDARD ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
19 TAC §97.1003
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes new §97.1003,
concerning the Texas public school accountability system. The proposed new
section adopts by reference
Sections 1
and
Legal counsel with the TEA has recommended that the procedures for issuing
regular accountability ratings for public school districts and campuses be
adopted as part of the
Texas Administrative Code
. This decision was made in 2000 given a court decision challenging
state agency decision making via administrative letter/publications. Given
the statewide application of the accountability rating process and the existence
of sufficient statutory authority for the commissioner of education to formally
adopt rules in this area, portions of each annual accountability manual have
been adopted since 2000. The proposed new section adopts by reference
The 2003 accountability system will provide a transition from the current
accountability rating system that uses Texas Assessment of Academic Skills
(TAAS) results and annual dropout rates to the new accountability rating system
that will use Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) results and
longitudinal completion rates. State statute requires annual district performance
ratings with the standard accountability labels of
Exemplary
,
Recognized
,
Academically Acceptable
, and
Academically
Unacceptable
. Campuses must also be evaluated annually; however, accountability
labels for campuses are not specified in statute. To comply with state statute,
district 2002 accountability ratings will be carried forward to 2003. A separate
December 2003 performance evaluation will address the requirement for annual
campus evaluations.
The December 2003 accountability evaluations will be based on 2003 performance
data and the 2004 accountability standards. Districts will be identified in
the December 2003 accountability evaluations as
2003 Performance Meets 2004 Standard(s)
or
2003 Performance Does Not Meet 2004 Standard(s)
. Districts with a 2002
accountability rating of
Academically Unacceptable
and a designation
2003 Performance Does Not
Meet 2004 Standard(s)
will receive follow-up site visits during the
2003 - 2004 school year. Campus performance evaluations will identify the
indicators and student groups for which 2003 performance fails to meet the
2004 accountability standard(s). Campuses will not receive the designation
Criss Cloudt, Associate Commissioner for Accountability Reporting and Research,
has determined that for the first five-year period the new section is in effect
there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result
of enforcing or administering the new section.
Dr. Cloudt has determined that for each year of the first five years the
new section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing
the new section will be continued knowledge by the public of the existence
of annual publications specifying accountability procedures for the public
schools. There will not be an effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated
economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the new section as
proposed.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez,
Accountability Reporting and Research, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin,
Texas 78701, (512) 463-9701. Comments may also be submitted electronically
to
rules@tea.state.tx.us
or faxed to (512)
475-3499. All requests for a public hearing on the proposed new section submitted
under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner
of education not more than 15 calendar days after notice of the proposed new
section has been published in the
Texas Register
.
The new section is proposed under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051(c)
- (e), 39.073, 39.074(a) - (b), and 39.075, which authorize the commissioner
of education to specify the indicators, standards, and procedures used to
determine standard accountability ratings and to determine acknowledgment
on additional indicators.
The new section implements the Texas Education Code, §§39.051(c)
- (e), 39.073, 39.074(a) - (b), and 39.075.
§97.1003.Adoption by Reference: 2003 Accountability Plan.
(a)
The standard procedures by which the Texas public school
accountability system will be administered for school year 2002-2003 are described
in the official Texas Education Agency (TEA) publication,
Sections 1
and
2
of the
2003 Accountability Plan
, dated July 2002, which is adopted by this
reference as the agency's official rule. A copy of the
2003 Accountability Plan
is available for examination during regular
office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays,
at the Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701.
In addition, the publication can be accessed from the Texas Education Agency
official website.
(b)
The commissioner of education shall amend
Sections 1
and
2
of the
2003 Accountability Plan
and this section adopting it by reference,
as needed.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on June 26, 2002.
TRD-200204023
Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez
Manager, Policy Planning
Texas Education Agency
Earliest possible date of adoption: August 11, 2002
For further information, please call: (512) 463-9701
Chapter 241.
PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE
Part 7.
STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION