Houston, TX – Public Education Chair Harold Dutton (D-Houston) and House sponsor of SB 1365 authored by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) was voted out of committee 7-5-1 and moves to the floor of the House. This legislation ensures Texas students continue to be put FIRST by implementing the statutory turnaround model for low-performing or failing public schools and clarifies the provisions put in place by the Legislature allowing the TEA commissioner to take action after the 5-year timeline regarding the failed academic and financial performance of several school districts, which were undone by a recent Third Court of Appeals ruling.

"SB1365 is a very important bill for students, parents and ISDs in Texas and I am hoping its headed to Governor Abbotts desk," said Bettencourt. "This legislation will ensure that students get a quality education and don’t have to stay at a school that is failing improvement requests, IR," added Bettencourt.

The changes in SB1365 applies to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to continue operations of the accountability system. Key provisions of SB1365:

• A-F rating system: Year 3 of school receiving an F rating are required to implement a commissioner- approved campus turnaround plan and enables the commissioner appoint a board of managers, or close the school if the district fails to submit a campus turn around plan within 2 years
• Year 5 of school receiving an F rating requires commissioner to appoint board of managers to turn around campus or close the school.
• Clarifies explicit conservator authority over a district regardless for the reasons of the placement of the conservator

"We are talking about restoring all the reforms that have been made in the Public Education system for the last 5 years, because of a twisted Third Court of Appeals ruling, striking down the A-F reform and other actions the Texas Legislature has taken in a bipartisan matter over the past few years," he continued.

"SB1365 is a good bipartisan public policy and makes the process clear and intentional when there are failing schools so students don’t get left behind!" Bettencourt concluded.

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