2000 Comprehensive Biennial Report on Texas Public Schools. A Report to the 77th Texas Legislature.

This comprehensive report on Texas schools indicates that more than 80 percent of students pass the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TASS) test, and students continue to show impressive gains on math and reading tests. Chapter 1, "Student Performance," provides data on student performance on the Spring 2000 Texas Assessment of Academic Skills for all grades, subjects, and tests. Chapter 2, "Student Dropouts," provides statewide data that indicate stabilized dropout rates. Chapter 3, "Academic Excellence Indicators," reports the progress Texas is making across a broad range of indicators. Chapter 4, "Grade Level Retention," examines the scope, composition, and geography of student retention. Chapter 5, "Status of the Curriculum," contains information about the implementation of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills tests in more than 10 subject areas. Chapter 6, "District and Campus Performance," assesses the performance of schools and districts, and lists those not in compliance with requirements. Chapter 7, "Deregulation and Waiver," traces the emergence of rules designed to encourage charter. Chapter 8, "Administration Cost Ratios," provides a brief sketch of nonfederal administrative and instructional program expenditures. Chapter 9, "District Reporting Requirements," describes the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) district-reporting requirements. Chapter 10, "Texas Education Agency Funds and Expenditures," examines TEA expenditures on new programs to improve student achievement, including new prekindergarten, kindergarten, and student-success initiatives and the Foundation School program. (TEJ)