District staff outlines General Assembly activity: ESSA/ACT bill, cell-phone mandate, recall proposals and vouchers among items to watch

Mr. Curry, a district staff member, briefed the Germantown Board of Education on recent General Assembly activity at the Jan. 14 work session.

He said the legislature convened and committees and sponsors are being assigned. Representative Haston filed a bill that would direct the Department of Education to seek an amendment to the state’s ESSA plan to permit use of the ACT for high-school assessment in place of the current TCAP instrument; staff said this aligns with an item on the district’s legislative agenda. Mr. Curry said he expected the district to advocate for the change.

Mr. Curry also discussed emerging bills on cell-phone use, saying TSBA expects a bill that will mandate districts adopt a policy restricting phone usage during noninstructional time; he said the district likely has a foundation for compliance but may need minor policy changes.

On recall legislation, Mr. Curry described two approaches filed in the House and Senate: a House bill (sponsored by Representative Hardaway, with local sponsor Mark White) limited to school boards and requiring signatures equal to 66% of the last election’s vote total; and a Senate bill (filed by Senator Lowe) that would apply to municipal governments with a 20% threshold. He noted the city code of ordinances in Germantown already contains a recall provision for aldermen but not for school-board members because state statute lacks a method for school-board recall by voters.

Mr. Curry also said voucher legislation appears likely to pass and that districts are preparing for various outcomes, including seeking administrative relief to reduce burdens on public schools if vouchers pass with added regulations.

He noted a bill-filing deadline announced as Feb. 6 and said the legislature may call a special session during a short upcoming recess.

Why it matters: state statutes and regulations drive testing, district policy requirements and governance rules. Pending legislation could change high-school assessment instruments, require district-level policy changes on cell phones, and alter how elected boards may be recalled.

What’s next: district staff said it will continue advocacy and monitoring; board members were asked to communicate with legislative contacts and stakeholders as needed.