Bill: SB 1483, 84(R) - 2015
Committee
Senate Education
Companion Bill
HB 1891
Vote Recommendation
Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
No |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Negative |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Sylvia Garcia
Bill Caption
Relating to Texas community schools.
Fiscal Notes
No fiscal implication to the State anticipated.
Local Government
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated. School districts could incur additional costs to transition
to a Texas community school, but these costs would be voluntary.
Bill Analysis
SB 1483 would amend Education Code to define and set forth provisions for Texas community schools. A Texas community school "is a public
elementary, middle, junior high, or high school that partners with one or more
community-based organizations to coordinate academic, social, and health services
to reduce barriers to learning and improve the quality of education for
students in the community." The bill would also set forth provisions for public schools transferring to 'community schools' and allow low-performing schools the option to transfer to a community school, in lieu of reconstitution.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill would abridge the principle of limited government. We oppose
allowing school campuses to transition to a community school model
because the model protects the interests of adults as the expense of
children and removes crucial state oversight to ensure children are
receiving quality education. Furthermore, the bill specifically prevents
the closure of a campus
unless campus converts to a community school and is allowed two years to
operate as a community school, removing the education commissioner's
power to begin to fix a failing school. For these reasons, we oppose SB 1483.