1. 85th Legislative Presentation – 5th
Parents
Retirement
Special Programs

2. Parent Notification HB 3563 - Teacher Qualifications
Not required in the TEC if district is required under ESSA to provide notice teacher does not meet certification requirements at grade level or subject area
SB Complaints
Board not required to address participation in extracurricular activity if it does not involve violation of a parental right

3. TRS CARE
HB 3976
Increases state contribution for TRS-Care from 1.0% to 1.25% of active employee payroll
Creates TRS Care Standard Plan – high deductible for retirees, spouses, dependents NOT eligible for Medicare
Creates TRS-Care Medicare Advantage Plan for those eligible for Medicare

4. SB 1663 – Retire/Rehire
Changes retire-rehire regarding promise of re-employment
Individual is employed if doing a job within a year of retirement as:
independent contractor or
volunteer basis without compensation
Allows TRS to impose late fee for failing to timely report employee retirement information to TRS based on size of district
$1,000 to $25,000 per day after deadline
Requires remittance of information to TRS before 11th day after last day of calendar month in which retiree is employed

5. Special Programs

6. HB 1645 – Special Olympics
Requires district to allow high school students who participate in Special Olympics to earn a letter grade.

7. HB Dyslexia
ESC must employee a licensed dyslexia therapist to assist districts
Students will be screened or tested as appropriate for dyslexia and related disorders for programs approved by SBOE
Program must include screening at the end of the school year for students in kindergarten and first grade.
Applies beginning with the school year

8. Dyslexia Training Opportunities
TEA annually develop list of training opportunities
List must include one training online
Training comply with:
Standards of international organization on dyslexia
Enable educator to understand and recognize dyslexia
Instruction is systematic, explicit, evidence-based

9. HB 1645 – Transition Planning for Special Education
Allows parents and district to invite other persons to participate in planning is student is younger than 18
Student 18 or older may invite other persons to participate
Extends number of issues ARD committee must consider and address in IEP
Adds Texas Workforce commission to organizations districts must communicate and collaborate
District provide in writing 1 year prior to 18th birthday of student to the student, parents, or guardian:
Supported decision-making agreement under Chapter 1357 Estates Code
Commissioner to develop and post on website model form for notification

10. SB 160 - Monitoring System Special Education
Prohibits commissioner from adopting or implementing performance indicators in any monitoring system, including PBMAS, that solely measures aggregated numbers or percentage of enrolled students receiving special education services.
Does NOT prohibit collecting data under federal requirements, including significant disproportionality based on race or ethnicity:
Identification rates
Particular types of impairments
Placement in particular education settings
Incidence, duration, type of disciplinary actions
Including suspensions & expulsions

11. SB 748 – Transition Planning Special Education Program
Modifies issues in IEP that ARD must consider, including:
Type of involvement by parents/guardians
Preparation for postsecondary-level course work
Use and availability of:
Supplementary aids
Services
Curricula
Opportunities in developing decision-making skills

12. SB 748 – Transition Planning Special Education Program
Prior to 1 year before student’s 18th birthday, district must provide to student and parents:
Written notice of transfer of rights, information, resources regarding guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, supported decision-making agreement, other supports and services to enable student to live independently
Insure IEP includes statement that notice was provided

13. SB 1398 – Video Cameras in Special Education
Requires:
Written request by authorized persons to trigger placement in classrooms where student receives services
Begin operation of camera no later than 45th school business day or after request is authorized
Reduces:
Video retention period to 3 months after recording
Does NOT require camera in operation for time when students are not present in classroom or special education setting

14. SB 2141 – Representative in Special Education Hearing
Requires commissioner to adopt rules requiring representative who receives monetary compensation in a hearing:
Abide by a voluntary code of ethics/conduct
Enter into confidential written agreement with person who is subject to due process hearing

15. HB 2130 – TEA Study of Assessment on Students in Special Education
Requirements:
Determine if alternate assessment complies with ESSA
Will the required assessments:
Provide accurate assessment of academic achievement
Result in administration as inappropriate for student capacity
Result in decrease in numbers promoted
Result in decrease in graduation rates
Result in fewer opportunities to pursue high education
Result in fewer opportunities for competitive employment
Result in:
Restrictions
Alternative placements
Limitations on advancement

16. HB continued
Determine if statutory changes have the effect of exempting students in special education from administration of an assessment
Requires TEA to identify recommendations to improve impact of testing on special education students:
With respect to improving promotion and graduation rates
Reforms or changes in developing accommodations
Changes to rules in development, adoption or administration of assessment
Statutory changes to code relating to development, adoption, administration
Any additional reforms or changes
Report submitted to all legislators no later than October 1, 2018
Report to be published on website with all data on which agency relied to form determinations and recommendations

17. HB 2729 – Credentials/Certificates Earned by High School Students
Requires TEA, THECB, TWC to develop and post:
Inventory of industry-recognized credentials & certificates high school students could earn through CTE programs:
Aligned to workforce needs
Serve as entry point to middle/high wage jobs
Inventory to include for each credential or certificate:
Associated career cluster
Awarding entity
Level of education required or other requirements
Fees for obtaining
Average wage or salary
Agencies to update and provide copy of inventory to each district and
Agencies must post on websites

18. SB 22 – Pathways in Technology Program
Creates Early College High School Program (P-TECH)
Establishes advisory council composed of:
3 members representing school appointed by:
One member by governor
One member by lieutenant governor
One member by speaker of House
6 members representing industry or business partners, appointed by:
2 members by governor
2 members by lieutenant governor
2 members by speaker of House

19. SB 22 Advisory council advises commissioner: Requires commissioner:
Establishment of P-TECH program
Criteria for designation as a campus
Requires commissioner:
Establish program for students who wish to participate in work-based education program
Requires program:
Be open enrollment
Provide course of study grades 9-12 to combine high school courses and postsecondary courses
Allow participating student to complete high school on or before 6th anniversary of first date of high school

20. SB 22 Requires program: Be open enrollment
Provide course of study grades 9-12 to combine high school courses and postsecondary courses
Allow participating student to complete high school on or before 6th anniversary of first day of high school
Receive diploma and associate degree, 2 year postsecondary certificate or industry certification
Complete work-based training through internship, apprenticeship or other job training program
Include:
Articulation agreements with higher education providing access to postsecondary training
MOU with regional industry or business partners that provide access to work-based training
Provide student flexibility in class scheduling and academic mentoring
NO cost to participating students

21. SB 22 Articulation agreement must include:
Curriculum alignment
Instructional materials
Instructional calendar
Course of study
Student enrollment and attendance
Grading periods & policies
Administration of statewide assessment instruments
Commissioner to collaborate with TWC and THECB to develop & implement plan for P-TECH program to address:
Regional workforce needs
Credit transfer policies between institutions of higher education
Internships, apprenticeships, other work-based education programs
Allows businesses to partner with schools to provide work-based training

22. SB 22
Allows district to obtain accident medical expenses, liability or automobile insurance coverage to protect:
Business or entity that partners for training and under P-TECH program
Student enrolled in district who participates in program
Coverage:
Obtained from reliable authorized insurer
Provided through a self-funded risk pool of which district is member
Requires district notify parents if coverage is obtained
Entitles student to immunity in same manner as professional employee of district

23. SB 22 Allows district to apply to commissioner for P-TECH designation
Requires commissioner:
Establish criteria for designation
Requires district:
Articulation agreement only with higher education accredited by accrediting agency recognized by THECB
Review and update each MOE with industry or business partner every 2 years
Explain how P-TECH will address regional workforce needs
Commissioner to establish grant not to exceed $5 million
Dropout does not apply until after 6th anniversary of student’s first day in high school

24. SB 1153 – Parental Rights Certain Intervention Strategies
Defines Intervention Strategy
Multi-tiered system of supports above level of intervention generally used with all children, including Response to Intervention
Requires district to give written notice to parent of record relating to assistance provided for learning difficulties, including strategies used
New requirement that written explanation include information regarding aid, accommodations, or services under 504
Information included in student handbook or other means

25. SB 1153 Requires district to: Notice to include:
Notify parent, other than special education program, who receives assistance for learning difficulties through intervention strategies
Notice provided:
When children begins to receive assistance
Written in English and parent’s native language to extent possible
Notice to include:
Reasonable description of assistance
Information regarding “base tier” interventions
Estimate of duration assistance will be provided
Estimate time frame for when progress report will be provided
Copy of TEA-provided notice, which may be given to parent during 504 meeting

26. SB 1153
Requires commissioner to mandate collection of data through PEIMS:
Number of students receiving:
Aids,
Accommodations
Services under 504
Total number of students enrolled who were provided intervention services

27. SB 1220 – Continuity of Education
TEA to assist the transition of students who are homeless or in substitute care, from one school to another:
Develop procedures to ensure new school relies on decisions made by previous school regarding placement in programs
Requires student placed in comparable courses or educational programs
Requires district to provide comparable services during referral process for special education services until new school develops an IEP