House Bill No. 1591 amends the Education Code to modify the scheduling of the first day of school for students by school districts. The bill introduces new provisions allowing districts designated as "districts of innovation" to begin instruction on or after the third Wednesday in August, in addition to existing options for starting before the fourth Monday in August under specific conditions. The bill also updates the requirements for local innovation plans, including the addition of accountability and assessment measures that exceed state and federal law, and specifies that districts cannot exempt themselves from certain academic and financial accountability standards, as well as the new first day of instruction requirements.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the amendments will apply starting with the 2026-2027 school year, and any local innovation plans adopted or renewed prior to the effective date will be governed by the previous law. The changes aim to provide greater flexibility for school districts in scheduling their academic year while maintaining accountability standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.0811 (Education Code 25)