| Legislative News | |
| May 19th, 2006 | |
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Subject: Final Status Regarding 2006
Alternative Education Accountability (AEA) Registration TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED: Beginning in 2006, each registered alternative education campus (AEC) must have a minimum percentage of at-risk students enrolled on the AEC verified through current-year Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) fall enrollment data in order to remain registered and be evaluated under AEA procedures. The at-risk criterion begins at 65% in 2006 and increases by five percentage points annually until it reaches 75% in 2008, where it is expected to remain as described below. ● 2006 – 65% or higher at-risk student enrollment at the registered AEC ● 2007 – 70% or higher at-risk student enrollment at the registered AEC ● 2008 – 75% or higher at-risk student enrollment at the registered AEC The 2006 registration criteria are outlined in Chapter 9 – AEA Registration Criteria and Requirements (pages 81-84) and Chapter 14 – Preview of 2006 and Beyond (pages 115-116) of the 2005 Accountability Manual. The August 5, 2005 email correspondence that was sent to all district superintendents regarding the AEA campus registration process for 2006 also specified that the at-risk registration criterion will be applied beginning this school year. Safeguards for the At-Risk Registration Criterion The safeguards below are incorporated for AECs not meeting the at-risk registration criterion. The Prior-Year PEIMS At-Risk Data and New Campus safeguards are permanent and apply in 2006 and beyond. The At-Risk Statewide Average safeguard is a one-year accommodation and applies in 2006 only. Prior-Year PEIMS At-Risk Data Safeguard If a registered AEC does not meet the at-risk criterion in the current year, then it remains under AEA if the AEC meets the at-risk criterion in the prior year. For example, an AEC with an at-risk enrollment of 64% in 2006 and 65% in 2005 remains registered in 2006. New Campus Safeguard If a new campus is registered for evaluation under AEA procedures, then the AEC is not required to meet the at-risk criterion in its first year of operation. This safeguard provides a first-year accommodation for new campuses with no prior-year data. At-Risk Statewide Average Safeguard The 2006 at-risk statewide average is 49%. If a registered AEC does not meet the at-risk registration criterion and the prior two safeguards are not applicable, then the AEC remains under AEA if the AEC has a minimum of 49% at-risk in 2006. This safeguard is a one-year accommodation for the new at-risk registration criterion and applies in 2006 only. Final 2006 AEA Campus Registration Status Due to timing between the AEC registration, PEIMS fall enrollment submission, and PEIMS fall data availability this spring, the 2006 at-risk registration criterion could not be applied until early April. The list of 2006 registered AECs has been updated to remove the 17 AECs not meeting the at-risk registration criterion or using the safeguards and the 32 AECs with no 2005-06 PEIMS fall enrollment data that will not be rated in 2006. The final list is available on the AEA website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/aea/. Charter Operators Evaluated Under 2006 AEA Procedures The list of charter operators that will be evaluated under 2006 AEA procedures is also available on the AEA website. Charters that operate only registered AECs will be evaluated under AEA procedures. Charters that operate both standard campuses and registered AECs have the option to be evaluated under AEA procedures if at least 50% of the charter’s students are enrolled at registered AECs (enrollment is verified through current-year PEIMS fall enrollment data). Charters that operate both standard campuses and registered AECs will be evaluated under standard accountability procedures if fewer than 50% of the charter’s students are enrolled at registered AECs. 2007 AEA Campus Registration Process The 2007 AEA campus registration process will occur in September 2006. An email notification will be sent to all superintendents stating that AECs rated in 2005-06 will be re-registered automatically in 2006-07. A rescission letter will be required from AECs not wishing to remain registered for AEA. A 2006-07 Alternative Education Accountability Campus Registration Form will be required from each AEC that wishes to be evaluated under 2006-07 AEA procedures that is not already on the list of registered AECs. A sample rescission letter and the registration form will be available on the AEA website. The list of 2007 registered AECs will be available on the AEA website in late October 2006. Also note that in 2007, all registered AECs must meet an at-risk registration criterion of 70% in order to remain registered and be evaluated under 2007 procedures. Questions Any clarifying questions regarding this email may be directed to the Division of Performance Reporting at (512) 463-9704 or performance.reporting@tea.state.tx.us. Contact Information Texas Education Agency Office of Accountability and Data Quality, Criss Cloudt, Associate Commissioner Division of Performance Reporting, Shannon Housson, Director Accountability Unit – AEA Procedures, Nancy Rinehart, Manager (512) 463-9704 performance.reporting@tea.state.tx.us |
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| Wednesday, April 11, 2006 10:48 AM | |
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Commissioner of
Education's Final Accountability Decisions TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: The Commissioner of Education's final decisions for the state accountability system for 2006 and beyond (for both standard and alternative procedures) have been released and can be viewed at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2006/ The 2006 Accountability Manual is planned to be released by the end of May 2006. The following are bills passed during the 79th regular session that will have some impact on alternative education. HB1111- permits charter schools that specialize in performing arts to have admissions decisions on a student’s demonstration of artistic ability. SB1395 – allows Job Corps training programs to establish a high school diploma program. HB283 – allows a student who does not reside in the district to enroll if the student if the student’s grandparents reside in the district. This also requires the district school board/designee, on the request of a parent of a student who is the victim of bullying to transfer the victim to another classroom or another campus other than the classroom/campus the bully attends. This must also be reflected in the student code-of-conduct. HB308 – requires districts to develop and implement a transfer system for students involved in sexual assault or aggravated assault under the Texas Penal Code. Upon request of the victim’s parents, the district must transfer the victim to another campus/district. If the victim does not want to transfer, the district must transfer the student who engaged in the offensive conduct. HB1575 – clarifies that the affirmative defense of excused absences or involuntary absences in truancy or failure to attend school proceedings applies only where there are insufficient unexcused voluntary absences remaining. Requires a court to dismiss a complaint regarding absences if the school fails to file the complaint within seven school days of the students last absence. HB492 – requires Texas to include instruction in personal financial literacy in one or more courses required for graduation. HB603 – requires that the district’s student code of conduct specify whether consideration is given as a factor in a decision to order suspension, removal to a DAEP, expulsion, to 1) self –defense, 2) intent or lack of intent at the time the student engaged in conduct, 3) a student’s disciplinary history or, 4) a disability that substantially impairs the student’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of the student’s conduct. Additionally, this bill provides that if a teacher removes a student from class because of assault ,sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault against the teacher, the teacher may not be returned to that teacher’s classroom without the teacher’s consent. Also, the campus principal must inform each educator who has the responsibility for instruction of a student who is removed from class and placed in DAEP or expelled. TRS changes that were made and are effective September 1, 2005: 1) Benefit calculation grandfather provisions- grandfathered if the member meets any one of the following criteria on or before August 31, 2005. a) at least 50 years old, or b) age + years of service credit equal at least 70, or c) have at least 25 years of service credit. Members who DO NOT meet anyone of the above are subject to the following effective September 1, 2005. a) Final average salary at retirement will be determined by highest 5 years rather than 3 years. ( Approx. $200 per month less. b) Subsidized early retirement will be eliminated. This means that members age 55 or older with 20-29 years of credited service who take early retirement will receive a greater reduction to their annuities. c) Partial lump sum option eligibility will require a combined age plus years of creditable service that equals 80. d) Service credit- if members have service credit they can purchase to help them meet the grandfather provisions they must purchase service credits by August 31, 2005. e) Members making installment payments must also complete purchase by making all remaining payments by 8/31/2006. f) Service Retirement Eligibility- for those becoming TRS members on or after Sept. 1, 2007 the member will be required to meet one of the following eligibility requirements to be qualify for an unreduced annuity at retirement: -Age 65 with 5 years of service credit or -Age 60 with at least 5 years service credit and meets rules of 80 g) Service Retirees who retire after Sept. 1, 2005. To be eligible for TRS-care the member must have at least 10 years of service credit and must meet one of the following: -Sum of age + years of service equals or exceeds 80 at time of retirement -The retirement has 30 or more years of service credit If you want more information on other bills passed during the 79th legislative session you can obtain a briefing book at the TEA website. Additional information on retirement issues can be obtained at the TRS website. We will keep you updated as additional bills are passed. Lynn Lee |
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