TITLE 19.EDUCATION

Part 2. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

Chapter 97. PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Subchapter AA. ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING

19 TAC §97.1004

(Editor's Note: In accordance with Government Code, §2002.014, which permits the omission of material which is "cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient," Figure: 19 TAC §97.1004(b) is not included in the print version of the Texas Register. The Figure is available in the on-line version of the August 26, 2005, issue of the Texas Register.)

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes amendment to §97.1004, concerning adequate yearly progress (AYP). The section describes the procedures for determining AYP and adopts applicable excerpts of the 2004 Adequate Yearly Progress Guide , dated September 2004. The proposed amendment would adopt applicable excerpts of the 2005 Adequate Yearly Progress Guide , dated June 2005.

Under the accountability provisions in the federal No Child Left Behind Act, all public school campuses, school districts, and the state are evaluated for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Districts, campuses, and the state are required to meet AYP criteria on three measures: reading/language arts, mathematics, and either graduation rate (for high schools and districts) or attendance rate (for elementary and middle/junior high schools). If a campus, district, or state that is receiving Title I, Part A funds fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years, that campus, district, or state is subject to certain requirements such as offering supplemental educational services, offering school choice, or taking corrective actions. To implement these requirements, the agency developed the AYP Guide. Agency legal counsel determined that the commissioner of education should take formal rulemaking action to place into the Texas Administrative Code procedures related to AYP. The intention is to annually update the rule to incorporate provisions from the most recently published AYP Guide and communicate that information with school districts and charters.

Through 19 TAC §97.1004, adopted to be effective July 14, 2005, the commissioner exercised rulemaking authority to establish provisions related to AYP and set forth the process for evaluating campus and district AYP status. This rule also adopted applicable excerpts, Sections II-IV , of the 2004 Adequate Yearly Progress Guide , dated September 2004, that describe specific features of the system, AYP measures and standards, and appeals. The proposed amendment to 19 TAC §97.1004 would update the rule to adopt applicable excerpts, Sections II-IV , of the 2005 Adequate Yearly Progress Guide , dated June 2005. The proposed amendment would also add language to specify that the AYP Guide adopted for the previous school year will remain in effect with respect to that school year.

Criss Cloudt, associate commissioner for accountability and data quality, has determined that for the first five-year period the new section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state and local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amendment.

Dr. Cloudt has determined that for each year of the first five years the amendment is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be to continue to inform the public of the AYP rating procedures for the public schools. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposed amendment.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez, Policy Coordination, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 475-1497. Comments may also be submitted electronically to rules@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-0028. All requests for a public hearing on the proposed amendment submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 15 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register .

The amendment is proposed under the Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.055(b)(32), which authorizes the commissioner to perform duties in connection with the public school accountability system as prescribed by TEC, Chapter 39; TEC, §39.073, which authorizes the commissioner to determine how all indicators adopted under TEC, §39.051(b), may be used to determine accountability ratings; and TEC, §39.075(a)(4), which authorizes the commissioner to conduct special accreditation investigations in response to state and federal program requirements.

The amendment implements the Texas Education Code, §§7.055(b)(32), 39.073, and 39.075(a)(4).

§97.1004.Adequate Yearly Progress.

(a) In accordance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act and Texas Education Code , §§7.055(b)(32), 39.073, and 39.075, all public school campuses, school districts, and the state are evaluated for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Districts, campuses, and the state are required to meet AYP criteria on three measures: reading/language arts, mathematics, and either graduation rate (for high schools and districts) or attendance rate (for elementary and middle/junior high schools). The performance of a school district, campus, or the state is reported through indicators of AYP status established by the commissioner of education.

(b) The determination of AYP for school districts and charter schools in 2005 [ 2004 ] is based on specific criteria and calculations, which are described in excerpted sections of the 2005 [ 2004 ] AYP Guide provided in this subsection.

Figure: 19 TAC §97.1004(b) (.pdf)

(c) The specific criteria and calculations used in AYP are established annually by the commissioner of education and communicated to all school districts and charter schools.

(d) The specific criteria and calculations used in the AYP Guide adopted for the school year prior to 2005-2006 remain in effect for all purposes, including accountability, data standards, and audits, with respect to that school year.

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 August 15, 2005.

TRD-200503393

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Earliest possible date of adoption: September 25, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497