H.B. No. 2866 seeks to enhance public school accountability in Texas by amending the Education Code with several key provisions. It introduces a new process for school districts to appeal decisions made by the commissioner of education, allowing appeals only if the district is aggrieved. The bill emphasizes the use of empirical evidence in evaluating school districts and campuses, establishes a list of industry certifications aligned with high-wage occupations, and introduces annual performance ratings based on student achievement and progress. The commissioner is tasked with increasing performance standards over time to ensure continuous improvement and to help eliminate achievement gaps.

Additionally, the bill outlines a Local Accountability Grant Program to support districts in developing local accountability systems and specifies consequences for districts that challenge accountability ratings without exhausting remedies. It mandates that performance ratings be publicly available by August 15 each year and allows for a "Not Rated" status under certain conditions, ensuring that such a designation does not negatively impact a district's performance record. The bill also includes provisions for legal actions against the state, requiring claimants to deposit attorney fees into an escrow account until a final judgment is reached. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen accountability measures and align educational outcomes with workforce needs, with changes effective from the 2022-2023 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 7.057, Education Code 11.182, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.151, Education Code 39.201, Labor Code 312.003, Education Code 39.102 (Education Code 7, Education Code 11, Labor Code 312, Education Code 39)