The bill, S.B. No. 544, introduces new requirements for individualized education programs (IEPs) for public school students placed in alternative special education settings. It adds Section 29.0053 to the Education Code, defining "alternative special education setting" and mandating that the committee responsible for a student's IEP develop measurable goals for academic, social-emotional, and behavioral growth. These goals must be included in a supplement to the IEP, and the committee is required to meet at least once each semester to review the student's progress and assess the possibility of returning the student to a general education setting.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 29.011 by adding Subsection (a-3), which requires the admission, review, and dismissal committee for students aged 18 and older in alternative special education settings to develop similar measurable goals for their IEPs. The provisions of this bill will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and it will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.011 (Education Code 29)