S.B. No. 2619 introduces several amendments to the Education Code concerning the governance of school districts, particularly focusing on underperforming districts and the hiring of superintendents. A new section, 11.0585, mandates that trustees in school districts rated as underperforming must be elected during the first regularly scheduled election following a performance rating of F or a designation of rapidly declining. The bill also stipulates that the commissioner of education will notify affected districts and that newly elected trustees will serve staggered terms. Additionally, Section 11.15125 requires school boards to review the academic performance history of superintendent applicants before making hiring decisions, ensuring transparency by making this information publicly available.

Further amendments include the requirement for school districts to submit detailed information about their board members to the agency annually and upon any changes in membership, as outlined in Section 11.1518. The bill also establishes a new relative performance percentile ranking system for school districts and charter schools under Section 39.060. Other provisions address the training of board members and the election process for trustees during the appointment of a board of managers. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 11.1518, Education Code 11.159 (Education Code 11)