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 that allow 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 certain conditions. The bill also updates the requirements for local innovation plans, specifying that they must include accountability and assessment measures that exceed state and federal law, and it adds the first day of instruction requirements to the list of provisions from which districts cannot be exempted.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that local innovation plans must identify any requirements that inhibit their goals and from which they seek exemption. It specifies that the amendments will apply starting with the 2026-2027 school year, and any plans adopted or renewed before the effective date will be governed by the previous law. The bill aims 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)