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Relating to the assessment of public school students, the
establishment of a strong foundations grant program, and providing
accelerated instruction for students who fail to achieve
satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments.
Estimated Twoyear Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2094, Committee Report 2nd
House, Substituted : a negative impact of ($146,860,972) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to
implement the provisions of the bill.
SB 2094 would require a school district to establish a committee to address accelerated instruction for each student who fails to achieve satisfactory performance on certain
assessment instruments. Accelerated learning could be provided by allowing a student to be assigned to an exemplary teacher or through supplemental instruction. The bill provides guidelines for how a school district must address students who fail the assessment instrument. It would also require the commissioner of education to establish and administer a strong foundations grant
program for campuses or a campus program serving students enrolled in prekindergarten
through grade five to implement a rigorous school approach that combines certain instruction materials, and support structures.
While we support adaptive educational programs for students having exceptional difficulties meeting standards, it is concerning to create a state-wide program to accomplish this goal, especially at an additional cost of $146 million dollars to the public. However, until the legislature removes the requirement of these assessments, we see the benefit in assisting those low-performing students to achieve the greatest results. To that end, Texas Action remains cautiously neutral on SB 2094.