H.B. No. 1603         AN ACT   relating to the use of individual graduation committees and other   alternative methods to satisfy certain public high school   graduation requirements.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 12.104(b-2) and (b-3), Education Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (b-2)  An open-enrollment charter school is subject to the   requirement to establish an individual graduation committee under   Section 28.0258. [This subsection expires September 1, 2023.]          (b-3)  An open-enrollment charter school is subject to the   graduation qualification procedure established by the commissioner   under Section 28.02541. [This subsection expires September 1,   2023.]          SECTION 2.  Section 28.025(c-6), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c-6)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a person may receive   a diploma if the person is eligible for a diploma under Section   28.0258. [This subsection expires September 1, 2023.]          SECTION 3.  Section 28.02591(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in   coordination with the agency, shall collect longitudinal data   relating to the post-graduation pursuits of each student who is   awarded a diploma based on the determination of an individual   graduation committee under Section 28.0258, [as that section   existed before September 1, 2023,] including whether the student:                (1)  enters the workforce;                (2)  enrolls in an associate degree or certificate   program at a public or private institution of higher education;                (3)  enrolls in a bachelor's degree program at a public   or private institution of higher education; or                (4)  enlists in the armed forces of the United States or   the Texas National Guard.          SECTION 4.  Sections 39.025(a-3) and (a-5), Education Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (a-3)  A student who, after retaking an end-of-course   assessment instrument for Algebra I or English II, has failed to   perform satisfactorily as required by Subsection (a), but who   receives a score of proficient on the Texas Success Initiative   (TSI) diagnostic assessment for the corresponding subject for which   the student failed to perform satisfactorily on the end-of-course   assessment instrument satisfies the requirement concerning the   Algebra I or English II end-of-course assessment, as applicable.   [This subsection expires September 1, 2023.]          (a-5)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student who has   failed to perform satisfactorily on end-of-course assessment   instruments in the manner provided under this section may receive a   high school diploma if the student has qualified for graduation   under Section 28.0258. [This subsection expires September 1, 2023.]          SECTION 5.  Section 39.057(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The commissioner may authorize special accreditation   investigations to be conducted:                (1)  when excessive numbers of absences of students   eligible to be tested on state assessment instruments are   determined;                (2)  when excessive numbers of allowable exemptions   from the required state assessment instruments are determined;                (3)  in response to complaints submitted to the agency   with respect to alleged violations of civil rights or other   requirements imposed on the state by federal law or court order;                (4)  in response to established compliance reviews of   the district's financial accounting practices and state and federal   program requirements;                (5)  when extraordinary numbers of student placements   in disciplinary alternative education programs, other than   placements under Sections 37.006 and 37.007, are determined;                (6)  in response to an allegation involving a conflict   between members of the board of trustees or between the board and   the district administration if it appears that the conflict   involves a violation of a role or duty of the board members or the   administration clearly defined by this code;                (7)  when excessive numbers of students in special   education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, are assessed   through assessment instruments developed or adopted under Section   39.023(b);                (8)  in response to an allegation regarding or an   analysis using a statistical method result indicating a possible   violation of an assessment instrument security procedure   established under Section 39.0301, including for the purpose of   investigating or auditing a school district under that section;                (9)  when a significant pattern of decreased academic   performance has developed as a result of the promotion in the   preceding two school years of students who did not perform   satisfactorily as determined by the commissioner under Section   39.0241(a) on assessment instruments administered under Section   39.023(a), (c), or (l);                (10)  when excessive numbers of students eligible to   enroll fail to complete an Algebra II course or any other advanced   course as determined by the commissioner;                (11)  when resource allocation practices as evaluated   under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for significant   improvement in resource allocation;                (12)  when a disproportionate number of students of a   particular demographic group is graduating with a particular   endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);                (13)  when an excessive number of students is   graduating with a particular endorsement under Section   28.025(c-1);                (14)  in response to a complaint submitted to the   agency with respect to alleged inaccurate data that is reported   through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS)   or through other reports required by state or federal law or rule or   court order and that is used by the agency to make a determination   relating to public school accountability, including accreditation,   under this chapter;                (15)  when 10 percent or more of the students   graduating in a particular school year from a particular high   school campus are awarded a diploma based on the determination of an   individual graduation committee under Section 28.0258;                (16) [(15)]  when a school district for any reason   fails to produce, at the request of the agency, evidence or an   investigation report relating to an educator who is under   investigation by the State Board for Educator Certification; or                (17) [(16)]  as the commissioner otherwise determines   necessary.          SECTION 6.  Sections 28.02541(g), 28.0258(l), and   28.0259(e), Education Code, are repealed.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2021.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 1603 was passed by the House on April   13, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, 1 present, not   voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.   No. 1603 on May 24, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0,   1 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 1603 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 18, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays   1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor