The bill, S.B. No. 900, aims to enhance the public school accountability system in Texas by introducing a new school safety domain for evaluating school districts and campuses. This new domain will assess the effectiveness of schools in promoting a safe learning environment, which includes indicators such as the security of school facilities, training for faculty and staff, student instruction on safety, and the integration of various resources into school safety programs. The bill amends existing sections of the Education Code to incorporate this new domain alongside the current domains of student achievement, school progress, and closing the gaps.

In addition to the new school safety domain, the bill modifies the existing evaluation criteria by expanding the indicators used to measure school performance. Specifically, it adds the requirement to provide a safe learning environment as a key indicator and updates the number of domains from three to four. The bill also emphasizes the importance of disaggregated data in evaluating performance, particularly for students from diverse backgrounds. The changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, pending legislative approval for immediate enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 39.301 (Education Code 39)