A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

May 11, 2007

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

On Tuesday, May 8, 2007, Governor Perry signed Senate Bill (SB) 673, into law.  SB 673 allows students with disabilities to participate in a graduation ceremony after four years of high school.  The intent of SB 673 is to allow students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies with students they entered high school with four years earlier.  Please find two attached documents: SB 673 and a simple implementation chart.  As you review the legislation, please note that the SB 673 takes immediate effect.  Since graduation ceremonies will begin very soon, high schools and school districts will need to move quickly to implement this newly enacted state law.  The simple implementation chart is included to assist high schools and school districts in establishing a process to ensure proper implementation of this new state law.

While I am very sympathetic to the short timeline, I also know that local school districts will put forth their very best effort to comply with this new legislation.  Regardless of your current local board policies/procedures pertaining to the participation of students with disabilities in graduation ceremonies, SB 673 supersedes those policies.  Additionally, while the Texas Education Agency (Agency) has general rule-making authority regarding the implementation of special education services to students with disabilities, the Agency is not requiring documentation pertaining to the implementation of SB 673 based on the extremely short timeline.  However, the Agency does recommend that school personnel establish a basic process/procedure regarding their interactions with parents and/or adult students for use in addressing this legislation as part of the spring 2007 graduation ceremonies.  The Agency will revisit SB 673 over the summer/early fall so we can all be more thoughtful regarding the implementation of this new legislation.  School districts are not required to convene an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee meeting to implement the requirements of SB 673.

Agency personnel will discuss SB 673 with ESC personnel Tuesday morning, May 15.  If you have questions and/or require additional information, please contact your Regional Education Service Center special education contact after 2:00 PM, Tuesday, May 15, 2007.  Please refer to the TEA Special Education State Guidance web page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed/guidance/ for future updates regarding the requirements of SB 673.

Sincerely,

Shirley J. Neeley
Commissioner of Education

Attachment - Implementation of SB 673