House Bill 708:
Celebrate Freedom Week has been moved from the week of November 11th to the week of September 17th, effective beginning the 2007-2008 school year. The purpose of Celebrate Freedom Week is "to educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values on which this country was founded..." Sunday is considered the first day of the week in legislation. For more information regarding Celebrate Freedom Week, please visit:
http://www.tea.tx.us/ssc/whatsnew/freedom/freedom.htm

House Bill 1034:
The pledge of allegiance to the state flag has been changed to add "one state under God." This act takes effective immediately. The pledge to the Texas flag now is: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."
If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact Rosemary Morrow, Division of Curriculum, 512-463-9581.

House Bill 1059:
Statute Amended or Added:  Adds Section 38.019 and amends Section 38.001; Education Code
Summary: Gives Department of State Health Services (DSHS) power to create and amend a list of required immunizations for admission or provisional admission to public schools in addition to immunizations the department recommends for school-age children. This bill also requires school districts with website capabilities to post information relating to immunizations exceptions, required and suggested immunizations for school age children, information on health clinics offering vaccines and links to the DSHS website. This Act may be cited as the Emily Lastinger Act.
Change From Current Law: Changes authority from State Board of Health to Department of State Health Services. Adds DSHS power to create and implement required immunizations list. Adds mandatory website component.
Effective Date:  Immediate Effect
Action Required for the 2007-2008 School Year: None
Outstanding Issues:  None
Does This Bill Create A New Program?:  Yes, the Immunization Awareness Online Program
Rulemaking Authority?:  No
Does This Apply to Charters?:  Yes
Does This Bill Contain A New Reporting Requirement for TEA/school Districts?  Yes, posting on District websites.
House Bill 1844:
Statute Amended or Added:  Adds Section 29.916; Education Code
Summary: Requires a school district to permit a home-schooled student entitled under Section 25.001 to attend public school in the district to participate in an administration of the PSAT/NMSQT or a college advanced placement test offered by the district. A school district shall require a home-schooled student to pay the same fee to participate in a test under this subsection that a student enrolled in the district is required to pay.
Under the new section, a school district is required to post on the Internet website maintained by the district the date the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered and the date any college advanced placement tests will be administered. The notice must state that the PSAT/NMSQT or the advanced placement test is available for home schooled students eligible to attend school in the district and describe the procedures for a home schooled student to register for the test. A school district that does not maintain an Internet website must publish the information in a newspaper in the district. If a newspaper is not published in the school district, the district shall provide for the publication of notice in at least one newspaper in the county in which the district's central administrative office is located. The information must be posted or published at the same time and the same frequency with which the information is provided to a student who attends a district school.
Change From Current Law: Under current law, school districts are not required to provide testing services to home-schooled students.
Effective Date:  June 15, 2007. Applies beginning with the 2007-08 school year.
Action Required for the 2007-2008 School Year: A school district must post the required information on its website or, if it does not have a website, it must publish the required information in an appropriate newspaper. A school district must provide the required testing accommodations to a home-schooled student who is eligible to attend school in the district.
Outstanding Issues:  None
Does This Bill Create A New Program?:  TNo
Rulemaking Authority?:  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement Section 29.916.
Does This Apply to Charters?:  Does not expressly apply to charters.
Does This Bill Contain A New Reporting Requirement for TEA/school Districts?  No