Bill Text: TX HB5 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to public school accountability, including assessment, and curriculum requirements; providing a criminal penalty.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 51-22)

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-10 - See remarks for effective date [HB5 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB5-Engrossed.html
 
 
  By: Aycock, Deshotel, J. Davis of Harris, H.B. No. 5
      Villarreal, Callegari, et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to public school accountability, including assessment,
  and curriculum requirements.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) Section 7.010(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  The electronic student records system must permit an
  authorized state or district official or an authorized
  representative of an institution of higher education to
  electronically transfer to and from an educational institution in
  which the student is enrolled and retrieve student transcripts,
  including information concerning a student's:
               (1)  course or grade completion;
               (2)  teachers of record;
               (3)  assessment instrument results;
               (4)  receipt of special education services, including
  placement in a special education program and the individualized
  education program developed; and
               (5)  personal graduation plan as described by Section
  28.0212 or 28.02121, as applicable.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Section 7.062(e), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The rules must:
               (1)  limit the amount of assistance provided through a
  grant to not more than:
                     (A)  for a construction project, $200 per square
  foot of the science laboratory to be constructed; or
                     (B)  for a renovation project, $100 per square
  foot of the science laboratory to be renovated;
               (2)  require a school district to demonstrate, as a
  condition of eligibility for a grant, that the existing district
  science laboratories are insufficient in number to comply with the
  curriculum requirements imposed for the distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation [recommended and advanced] high
  school program [programs] under Section 28.025 [28.025(b-1)(1)];
  and
               (3)  provide for ranking school districts that apply
  for grants on the basis of wealth per student and giving priority in
  the award of grants to districts with low wealth per student.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 7.064 to read as follows:
         Sec. 7.064.  CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIUM.  (a) The
  commissioner shall investigate available options for the state to
  join a consortium of states for the purpose of developing sequences
  of academically rigorous career and technology courses in career
  areas that are high-demand, high-wage career areas in this state.
         (b)  The curricula for the courses must include the
  appropriate essential knowledge and skills adopted under
  Subchapter A, Chapter 28.
         (c)  If the commissioner determines that joining a
  consortium of states for this purpose would be beneficial for the
  educational and career success of students in the state, the
  commissioner may join the consortium on behalf of the state.
         SECTION 4.  (a) Section 12.111(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A charter holder of an open-enrollment charter school
  shall consider including in the school's charter a requirement that
  the school develop and administer personal graduation plans under
  Sections [Section] 28.0212 and 28.02121.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  (a)  Section 25.083, Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.083.  SCHOOL DAY INTERRUPTIONS. (a)  The board of
  trustees of each school district shall adopt and strictly enforce a
  policy limiting interruptions of classes during the school day for
  nonacademic activities such as announcements and sales promotions.
  At a minimum, the policy must limit announcements other than
  emergency announcements to once during the school day.
         (b)  The board of trustees of each school district shall
  adopt and strictly enforce a policy limiting the removal of
  students from class for remedial tutoring or test preparation. A
  district may not remove a student from a regularly scheduled class
  for remedial tutoring or test preparation if, as a result of the
  removal, the student would miss more than 10 percent of the school
  days on which the class is offered, unless the student's parent or
  another person standing in parental relation to the student
  provides to the district written consent for removal from class for
  such purpose.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 6.  (a)  The heading to Section 25.092, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.092.  MINIMUM ATTENDANCE FOR CLASS CREDIT OR FINAL
  GRADE.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 7.  (a)  Sections 25.092(a), (a-1), (b), and (d),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by this section, a student in any
  grade level from kindergarten through grade 12 may not be given
  credit or a final grade for a class unless the student is in
  attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.
         (a-1)  A student who is in attendance for at least 75 percent
  but less than 90 percent of the days a class is offered may be given
  credit or a final grade for the class if the student completes a
  plan approved by the school's principal that provides for the
  student to meet the instructional requirements of the class.  A
  student under the jurisdiction of a court in a criminal or juvenile
  justice proceeding may not receive credit or a final grade under
  this subsection without the consent of the judge presiding over the
  student's case.
         (b)  The board of trustees of each school district shall
  appoint one or more attendance committees to hear petitions for
  class credit or a final grade by students who are in attendance
  fewer than the number of days required under Subsection (a) and have
  not earned class credit or a final grade under Subsection (a-1).  
  Classroom teachers shall comprise a majority of the membership of
  the committee.  A committee may give class credit or a final grade
  to a student because of extenuating circumstances.  Each board of
  trustees shall establish guidelines to determine what constitutes
  extenuating circumstances and shall adopt policies establishing
  alternative ways for students to make up work or regain credit or a
  final grade lost because of absences.  The alternative ways must
  include at least one option that does not require a student to pay a
  fee authorized under Section 11.158(a)(15).  A certified public
  school employee may not be assigned additional instructional duties
  as a result of this section outside of the regular workday unless
  the employee is compensated for the duties at a reasonable rate of
  pay.
         (d)  If a student is denied credit or a final grade for a
  class by an attendance committee, the student may appeal the
  decision to the board of trustees. The decision of the board may be
  appealed by trial de novo to the district court of the county in
  which the school district's central administrative office is
  located.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 8.  (a) Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (c) and (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to
  read as follows:
         (c)  The State Board of Education, with the direct
  participation of educators, parents, business and industry
  representatives, and employers shall by rule identify the essential
  knowledge and skills of each subject of the required curriculum
  that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be
  used in evaluating instructional materials under Chapter 31 and
  addressed on the assessment instruments required under Subchapter
  B, Chapter 39.  As a condition of accreditation, the board shall
  require each district to provide instruction in the essential
  knowledge and skills at appropriate grade levels and to make
  available to each high school student in the district an Algebra II
  course.
         (f)  A school district may offer courses for local credit in
  addition to those in the required curriculum. The State Board of
  Education shall be flexible in approving a course for credit for
  high school graduation under this subsection. A district may also
  offer a course or other activity, including an apprenticeship or
  training hours needed to obtain an industry-recognized credential
  or certificate, that is approved by the board of trustees for local
  credit without obtaining State Board of Education approval if:
               (1)  the district develops a program under which the
  district partners with a public or private institution of higher
  education and local business, labor, and community leaders to
  develop and provide the courses; and
               (2)  the course or other activity allows students to
  enter:
                     (A)  a career or technology training program in
  the district's region of the state;
                     (B)  an institution of higher education without
  remediation;
                     (C)  an apprenticeship training program; or
                     (D)  an internship required as part of
  accreditation toward an industry-recognized credential or
  certificate for course credit.
         (f-1)  Each school district shall annually report to the
  agency the names of the courses, programs, institutions of higher
  education, and internships in which the district's students have
  enrolled under Subsection (f). The agency shall make available
  information provided under this subsection to other districts.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 9.  (a)  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.00222 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.00222.  INCREASE IN CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
  COURSES. (a) Not later than September 1, 2014, the State Board of
  Education shall ensure that at least six advanced career and
  technology education courses are approved to satisfy a fourth
  credit in mathematics.
         (b)  Not later than January 1, 2015, the commissioner shall
  review and report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
  of each standing committee of the legislature with primary
  responsibility over public primary and secondary education
  regarding the progress of increasing the number of courses approved
  for the career and technology education curriculum. The
  commissioner shall include in the report a detailed description of
  any new courses, including instructional materials and required
  equipment, if any.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2015.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 10.  (a) Section 28.006(j), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (j)  No more than 15 percent of the funds certified by the
  commissioner under Subsection (i) may be spent on indirect costs.  
  The commissioner shall evaluate the programs that fail to meet the
  standard of performance under Section 39.301(c)(4) [39.301(c)(5)]
  and may implement interventions or sanctions under Subchapter E,
  Chapter 39.  The commissioner may audit the expenditures of funds
  appropriated for purposes of this section.  The use of the funds
  appropriated for purposes of this section shall be verified as part
  of the district audit under Section 44.008.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 11.  (a) Section 28.014, Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.014.  COLLEGE PREPARATORY COURSES. (a) Each school
  district shall partner with at least one institution of higher
  education to develop and provide [The commissioner of education and
  the commissioner of higher education shall develop and recommend to
  the State Board of Education for adoption under Section 28.002 the
  essential knowledge and skills of] courses in college preparatory
  mathematics[, science, social studies,] and English language
  arts.  The courses must be designed:
               (1)  for students at the 12th grade level whose
  performance on:
                     (A)  [who do not meet college readiness standards
  on] an end-of-course assessment instrument required under Section
  39.023(c) or an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under
  Section 39.023(c-2) does not meet college readiness standards; or
                     (B)  coursework, a college entrance examination,
  or an assessment instrument designated under Section 51.3062(c)
  indicates that the student is not ready to perform entry-level
  college coursework; and
               (2)  to prepare students for success in entry-level
  college courses.
         (b)  A course developed under this section must be provided:
               (1)  on the campus of the high school offering the
  course; or
               (2)  through distance learning or as an online course
  provided through an institution of higher education with which the
  school district partners as provided by Subsection (a).
         (c)  Appropriate faculty of each high school offering
  courses under this section and appropriate faculty of each
  institution of higher education with which the school district
  partners shall meet regularly as necessary to ensure that each
  course is aligned with college readiness expectations. The
  commissioner of education, in coordination with the commissioner of
  higher education, may adopt rules to administer this subsection.
         (d)  Each school district shall provide a notice to each
  district student to whom Subsection (a) applies and the student's
  parent or guardian regarding the benefits of enrolling in a course
  under this section.
         (e)  A student who successfully completes an English
  language arts [a] course developed under this section may use the
  credit earned in the course toward satisfying the advanced English
  language arts [applicable mathematics or science] curriculum
  requirement for the foundation [recommended or advanced] high
  school program under Section 28.025(b-1)(1) [28.025]. A student
  who successfully completes a mathematics course developed under
  this section may use the credit earned in the course toward
  satisfying an advanced mathematics curriculum requirement under
  Section 28.025 after completion of the mathematics curriculum
  requirements for the foundation high school program under Section
  28.025(b-1)(2).
         (f)  A course provided under this section may be offered for
  dual credit at the discretion of the institution of higher
  education with which a school district partners under this section.
         (g)  Each school district, in consultation with each
  institution of higher education with which the district partners,
  shall develop or purchase [(c)     The agency, in consultation with
  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt an
  end-of-course assessment instrument for each course developed
  under this section to ensure the rigor of the course.     A school
  district shall, in accordance with State Board of Education rules,
  administer the end-of-course assessment instrument to a student
  enrolled in a course developed under this section.     Each school
  district shall adopt a policy that requires a student's performance
  on the end-of-course assessment instrument to account for 15
  percent of the student's final grade for the course.     A student's
  performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument administered
  under this subsection may be used, on a scale of 0-40, in
  calculating whether the student satisfies the graduation
  requirements established under Section 39.025.
         [(d)     The agency, in coordination with the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt a series of questions to
  be included in an end-of-course assessment instrument administered
  under Subsection (c) to be used for purposes of Section
  51.3062.     The questions must be developed in a manner consistent
  with any college readiness standards adopted under Sections 39.233
  and 51.3062.
         [(e)  The State Board of Education shall adopt]
  instructional materials for a course developed under this section
  consistent [in accordance] with Chapter 31.  The instructional
  materials must include technology resources that enhance the
  effectiveness of the course and draw on established best practices.
         (h) [(f)]  To the extent applicable, a district [the
  commissioner] shall draw from curricula and instructional
  materials developed under Section [Sections] 28.008 [and 61.0763]
  in developing a course and related instructional materials under
  this section. A  [Not later than September 1, 2010, the State Board
  of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills for each
  course developed under this section.     The State Board of Education
  shall make each] course developed under this section and the
  related instructional materials shall be made available to students 
  [school districts] not later than the 2014-2015 school year.  [As
  required by Subsection (c), a school district shall adopt a policy
  requiring a student's performance on an end-of-course assessment
  instrument administered under that subsection to account for 15
  percent of the student's grade for a course developed under this
  section not later than the 2014-2015 school year.]  This subsection
  expires September 1, 2015.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 12.  (a) The heading to Section 28.0212, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0212.  JUNIOR HIGH OR MIDDLE SCHOOL PERSONAL
  GRADUATION PLAN.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 13.  (a) Sections 28.0212(a) and (b), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A principal of a junior high or middle school shall
  designate a guidance counselor, teacher, or other appropriate
  individual to develop and administer a personal graduation plan for
  each student enrolled in the [a] junior high or[,] middle[, or high]
  school who:
               (1)  does not perform satisfactorily on an assessment
  instrument administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; or
               (2)  is not likely to receive a high school diploma
  before the fifth school year following the student's enrollment in
  grade level nine, as determined by the district.
         (b)  A personal graduation plan under this section must:
               (1)  identify educational goals for the student;
               (2)  include diagnostic information, appropriate
  monitoring and intervention, and other evaluation strategies;
               (3)  include an intensive instruction program
  described by Section 28.0213;
               (4)  address participation of the student's parent or
  guardian, including consideration of the parent's or guardian's
  educational expectations for the student; and
               (5)  provide innovative methods to promote the
  student's advancement, including flexible scheduling, alternative
  learning environments, on-line instruction, and other
  interventions that are proven to accelerate the learning process
  and have been scientifically validated to improve learning and
  cognitive ability.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 14.  (a) Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 28.02121 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.02121.  HIGH SCHOOL PERSONAL GRADUATION PLAN. (a)
  The agency, in consultation with the Texas Workforce Commission and
  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall prepare and
  make available to each school district in English and Spanish
  information that explains the advantages of the distinguished level
  of achievement described by Section 28.025(b-14) and each
  endorsement described by Section 28.025(c-1).  The information must
  contain an explanation:
               (1)  concerning the benefits of choosing a high school
  personal graduation plan that includes the distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation high school program and includes
  one or more endorsements to enable the student to achieve a class
  rank in the top 10 percent for students at the campus; and
               (2)  that encourages parents, to the greatest extent
  practicable, to have the student choose a high school personal
  graduation plan described by Subdivision (1).
         (b)  A school district shall publish the information
  provided to the district under Subsection (a) on the Internet
  website of the district and ensure that the information is
  available to students in grades nine and above and the parents or
  legal guardians of those students.
         (c)  A principal of a high school shall designate a guidance
  counselor or school administrator to review personal graduation
  plan options with each student entering grade nine together with
  that student's parent or guardian. The personal graduation plan
  options reviewed must include the distinguished level of
  achievement described by Section 28.025(b-14) and the endorsements
  described by Section 28.025(c-1). Before the conclusion of the
  school year, the student and the student's parent or guardian must
  confirm and sign a personal graduation plan for the student.
         (d)  A personal graduation plan under Subsection (c) must
  identify a course of study that:
               (1)  promotes:
                     (A)  college and workforce readiness; and
                     (B)  career placement and advancement; and
               (2)  facilitates the student's transition from
  secondary to postsecondary education.
         (e)  A school district may not prevent a student and the
  student's parent or guardian from confirming a personal graduation
  plan that includes pursuit of a distinguished level of achievement
  or an endorsement.
         (f)  A student may amend the student's personal graduation
  plan after the initial confirmation of the plan under this section.  
  If a student amends the student's personal graduation plan, the
  school shall send written notice to the student's parents regarding
  the change.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 15.  (a)  Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), (b-2), (b-3), (b-4),
  (b-5), (b-7), (b-9), (b-10), (b-11), and (e) and adding Subsections
  (b-12), (b-13), (b-14), (b-15), (b-16), (b-17), (b-18), (c-1),
  (c-2), (c-3), (e-1), (e-2), (e-3), (h), and (h-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The State Board of Education by rule shall determine
  curriculum requirements for the foundation [minimum, recommended,
  and advanced] high school program [programs] that are consistent
  with the required curriculum under Section 28.002. The [Subject to
  Subsection (b-1), the] State Board of Education shall designate the
  specific courses in the foundation curriculum under Section
  28.002(a)(1) required under [for a student participating in] the
  foundation [minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school
  program.  Except as provided by this section [Subsection (b-1)],
  the State Board of Education may not designate a specific course or
  a specific number of credits in the enrichment curriculum as
  requirements for the [recommended] program.
         (b)  A school district shall ensure that each student enrolls
  in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements
  identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) for
  the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program and
  the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements
  established under Subsection (b-14) for the distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation high school program, unless the
  student and the student's parent or legal guardian:
               (1)  are provided with the information required to be
  provided under Section 33.007(b) in a language in which the parent
  or legal guardian is proficient, or the information is conveyed to
  the parent or legal guardian by a translator provided by the school
  district who is proficient in the same language in which the parent
  or legal guardian is proficient, except that the district is
  required to provide the information according to this subdivision
  only if the district has enrolled in any one particular grade at
  least 20 students who primarily speak the language in which the
  information is to be provided; and
               (2)  agree in writing signed by the student and the
  student's parent or legal guardian that each party understands that
  the student should be permitted to successfully complete the
  foundation high school program without meeting the requirements of
  the distinguished level of achievement established under
  Subsection (b-14) [unless the student, the student's parent or
  other person standing in parental relation to the student, and a
  school counselor or school administrator agree in writing signed by
  each party that the student should be permitted to take courses
  under the minimum high school program and the student:
               [(1)  is at least 16 years of age;
               [(2)     has completed two credits required for graduation
  in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section
  28.002(a)(1); or
               [(3)     has failed to be promoted to the tenth grade one
  or more times as determined by the school district].
         (b-1)  The State Board of Education by rule shall require
  that [:
               [(1)  except as provided by Subsection (b-2),] the
  curriculum requirements for the foundation [recommended and
  advanced] high school program [programs] under Subsection (a)
  include a requirement that students successfully complete:
               (1) [(A)]  four credits in English language arts [each
  subject of the foundation curriculum] under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one credit in
  English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in an advanced
  English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (2)  three credits in mathematics under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
  geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
  authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (3)  three credits in science under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
  credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (4)  three credits in social studies under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(D) [28.002(a)(1)], including one credit in United
  States history, at least one-half credit in government and at least
  one-half credit in economics, and one credit in world geography or
  world history [to meet the social studies requirement];
               (5)  except as provided under Subsections (b-12) and
  (b-13) [(B)  for the recommended high school program], two credits
  in the same language in a language other than English under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(A) [and, for the advanced high school program, three
  credits in the same language in a language other than English under
  Section 28.002(a)(2)(A)]; [and]
               (6)  seven [(C)     for the recommended high school
  program, six] elective credits [and, for the advanced high school
  program, five elective credits];
               (7) [(2)     one or more credits offered in the required
  curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs
  include a research writing component; and
               [(3)     the curriculum requirements for the minimum,
  recommended, and advanced high school programs under Subsection (a)
  include a requirement that students successfully complete:
                     [(A)]  one credit in fine arts under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(D); and
               (8) [(B)]  except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
  credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C).
         (b-2)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall provide for [allow] a student to comply
  with the curriculum requirements for an advanced English course
  under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after successful completion of
  English I, English II, and English III, for an advanced [a]
  mathematics course under Subsection (b-1)(2) [(b-1)(1)] taken
  after the successful completion of Algebra I and geometry, and for
  any advanced [either after the successful completion of or
  concurrently with Algebra II or a] science course under Subsection
  (b-1)(3) [(b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of biology
  and chemistry and either after the successful completion of or
  concurrently with physics] by successfully completing a course in
  the appropriate content area that has been approved as an advanced
  course by board rule or that is offered as an advanced course for
  local credit without board approval as provided by Section
  28.002(f) [career and technical course designated by the State
  Board of Education as containing substantively similar and rigorous
  academic content.   A student may use the option provided by this
  subsection for not more than two courses].
         (b-3)  In adopting rules for purposes of Subsection (b-2) [to
  provide students with the option described by Subsection
  (b-1)(1)(A)], the State Board of Education must approve a variety
  of advanced English, mathematics, and science courses that may be
  taken [after the completion of Algebra II and physics] to comply
  with the foundation high school [recommended] program
  requirements, provided that each approved course prepares students
  to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary education
  without remediation.
         (b-4)  A school district may offer the curriculum described
  in Subsections (b-1)(1) through (4) [Subsection (b-1)(1)(A)] in an
  applied manner.  Courses delivered in an applied manner must cover
  the essential knowledge and skills, and the student shall be
  administered the applicable end-of-course assessment instrument as
  provided by Sections 39.023(c) and 39.025.
         (b-5)  A school district may offer a mathematics or science
  course to be taken by a student after completion of Algebra II and
  physics [to comply with the recommended program requirements in
  Subsection (b-1)(1)(A)].  A course approved under this subsection
  must be endorsed by an institution of higher education as a course
  for which the institution would award course credit or as a
  prerequisite for a course for which the institution would award
  course credit.
         (b-7)  The State Board of Education, in coordination with the
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to
  ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum requirements
  under the foundation [minimum, recommended, or advanced] high
  school program or for an endorsement under Subsection (c-1) [for
  each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section
  28.002(a)(1) and for languages other than English under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(A)] by successfully completing appropriate courses in
  the core curriculum of an institution of higher education under
  Section 61.822. Notwithstanding Subsection (b-14) or (c) of this
  section, Section 39.025, or any other provision of this code and
  notwithstanding any school district policy, a student who has
  completed the core curriculum of an institution of higher education
  under Section 61.822, as certified by the institution in accordance
  with commissioner rule, is considered to have earned a
  distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
  program and is entitled to receive a high school diploma from the
  appropriate high school as that high school is determined in
  accordance with commissioner rule. A student who is considered to
  have earned a distinguished level of achievement under the
  foundation high school program under this subsection may apply for
  admission to an institution of higher education for the first
  semester or other academic term after the semester or other
  academic term in which the student completes the core curriculum.
         (b-9)  A school district may allow [The agency shall
  establish a pilot program allowing] a student [attending school in
  a county with a population of more than one million and in which
  more than 75 percent of the population resides in a single
  municipality] to satisfy the fine arts credit required under
  Subsection (b-1)(7) [(b-1)(3)(A)] by participating in a
  community-based fine arts program not provided by the school
  district in which the student is enrolled. The fine arts program
  may be provided on or off a school campus and outside the regular
  school day. The fine arts program must provide instruction in the
  essential knowledge and skills identified for the fine arts
  curriculum under Section 28.002(c). [Not later than December 1,
  2010, the agency shall provide to the legislature a report
  regarding the pilot program, including the feasibility of expanding
  the pilot program statewide.]
         (b-10)  A school district, with the approval of the
  commissioner, may allow a student to comply with the curriculum
  requirements for the physical education credit required under
  Subsection (b-1)(8) [(b-1)(3)(B)] by participating in a private or
  commercially sponsored physical activity program provided on or off
  a school campus and outside the regular school day.
         (b-11)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall allow a student who is unable to
  participate in physical activity due to disability or illness to
  substitute one credit in English language arts, mathematics,
  science, or social studies, one credit in a course that is offered
  for local credit as provided by Section 28.002(f), or one academic
  elective credit for the physical education credit required under
  Subsection (b-1)(8) [(b-1)(3)(B)].  A credit allowed to be
  substituted under this subsection may not also be used by the
  student to satisfy a graduation requirement other than completion
  of the physical education credit.  The rules must provide that the
  determination regarding a student's ability to participate in
  physical activity will be made by:
               (1)  if the student receives special education services
  under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review,
  and dismissal committee;
               (2)  if the student does not receive special education
  services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, but is covered by Section
  504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), the
  committee established for the student under that Act; or
               (3)  if each of the committees described by
  Subdivisions (1) and (2) is inapplicable, a committee established
  by the school district of persons with appropriate knowledge
  regarding the student.
         (b-12)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall adopt criteria to allow a student to comply
  with the curriculum requirements for the two credits in a language
  other than English required under Subsection (b-1)(5) by
  substituting two credits in computer programming languages.
         (b-13)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall adopt criteria to allow a student in a
  special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, to comply
  with the curriculum requirements for two credits in a language
  other than English required under Subsection (b-1)(5) by
  substituting credits in English language arts, mathematics,
  science, or social studies or career and technology or another
  academic elective credit. A credit allowed to be substituted under
  this subsection may not also be used by the student to satisfy a
  graduation requirement other than completion of the language other
  than English requirement.
         (b-14)  A student may earn a distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation high school program by
  successfully completing:
               (1)  four credits in mathematics, which must include
  Algebra II and the courses described by Subsection (b-1)(2);
               (2)  four credits in science, which must include the
  courses described by Subsection (b-1)(3);
               (3)  the remaining curriculum requirements under
  Subsection (b-1); and
               (4)  the curriculum requirements for at least one
  endorsement under Subsection (c-1).
         (b-15)  A student may satisfy an elective credit required
  under Subsection (b-1)(6) with a credit earned to satisfy the
  additional curriculum requirements for the distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation high school program or an
  endorsement under Subsection (c-1).  This subsection may apply to
  more than one elective credit.
         (b-16)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
  ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum requirements
  under Subsection (b-1)(6) by successfully completing an advanced
  career and technical course, including a course that may lead to an
  industry-recognized credential or certificate or an associate
  degree.
         (b-17)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the
  curriculum requirements under Subsection (b-1) by successfully
  completing a dual credit course.
         (b-18)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall adopt criteria to allow a student to comply
  with curriculum requirements for the world geography or world
  history credit under Subsection (b-1)(4) by successfully
  completing a combined world history and world geography course
  developed by the State Board of Education.
         (c-1)  A student may earn an endorsement on the student's
  diploma and transcript by successfully completing curriculum
  requirements for that endorsement adopted by the State Board of
  Education by rule.  An endorsement under this subsection may be
  earned in any of the following categories:
               (1)  science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
  (STEM), which includes courses directly related to science,
  including environmental science, technology, including computer
  science, engineering, and advanced mathematics;
               (2)  business and industry, which includes courses
  directly related to database management, information technology,
  communications, accounting, finance, marketing, graphic design,
  architecture, construction, welding, logistics, automotive
  technology, agricultural science, and heating, ventilation, and
  air conditioning;
               (3)  public services, which includes courses directly
  related to health sciences and occupations, education and training,
  law enforcement, and culinary arts and hospitality;
               (4)  arts and humanities, which includes courses
  directly related to political science, world languages, cultural
  studies, English literature, history, and fine arts; and
               (5)  multidisciplinary studies, which allows a student
  to select courses from the curriculum of each endorsement area
  described by Subdivisions (1) through (4).
         (c-2)  In adopting rules under Subsection (c-1), the State
  Board of Education shall:
               (1)  require a student in order to earn any endorsement
  to successfully complete four credits in mathematics, which must
  include:
                     (A)  the courses described by Subsection
  (b-1)(2); and
                     (B)  an additional advanced mathematics course
  authorized under Subsection (b-2) or an advanced career and
  technology course designated by the State Board of Education as
  containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content to
  such an advanced mathematics course; and
               (2)  develop additional curriculum requirements for
  each endorsement with the direct participation of educators and
  business, labor, and industry representatives, and shall require
  each school district to report to the agency the categories of
  endorsements under Subsection (c-1) for which the district offers
  all courses for curriculum requirements, as determined by board
  rule.  Each school district must make available to high school
  students courses that allow a student to complete the curriculum
  requirements for at least one endorsement under Subsection (c-1).
         (c-3)  A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the
  student's diploma and transcript by satisfying the requirements for
  that acknowledgment adopted by the State Board of Education by
  rule. An acknowledgment under this subsection may be earned:
               (1)  for outstanding performance:
                     (A)  in a dual credit course;
                     (B)  on a college advanced placement test or
  international baccalaureate examination; or
                     (C)  on the PSAT, the ACT-Plan, the SAT, or the
  ACT; or
               (2)  for earning a nationally or internationally
  recognized business or industry certification or license.
         (e)  Each school district shall report the academic
  achievement record of students who have completed the foundation [a
  minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school program on
  transcript forms adopted by the State Board of Education. The
  transcript forms adopted by the board must be designed to clearly
  [differentiate between each of the high school programs and]
  identify whether a student received a diploma or a certificate of
  coursework completion.
         (e-1)  A school district shall clearly indicate a
  distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
  program as described by Subsection (b-14), an endorsement described
  by Subsection (c-1), and a performance acknowledgment described by
  Subsection (c-3) on the diploma and transcript of a student who
  satisfies the applicable requirements. The State Board of
  Education shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this
  subsection.
         (e-2)  At the end of each school year, each school district
  shall report through the Public Education Information Management
  System (PEIMS) the number of district students who, during that
  school year, were:
               (1)  enrolled in the foundation high school program;
               (2)  pursuing the distinguished level of achievement
  under the foundation high school program as provided by Subsection
  (b-14); and
               (3)  enrolled in a program to earn an endorsement
  described by Subsection (c-1).
         (e-3)  Information reported under Subsection (e-2) must be
  disaggregated by all student groups served by the district,
  including categories of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status,
  sex, and populations served by special programs, including students
  in special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29.
         (h)  The commissioner by rule shall adopt a transition plan
  to implement and administer the amendments made by __. B. No. __,
  83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, replacing the minimum,
  recommended, and advanced high school programs with the foundation
  high school program beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.
  Under the transition plan, a student who entered the ninth grade
  before the 2014-2015 school year must be permitted to complete the
  curriculum requirements required for high school graduation under:
               (1)  the foundation high school program, if the student
  chooses during the 2014-2015 school year to take courses under this
  program;
               (2)  the minimum high school program, as that program
  existed before the adoption of __.B. No. __, 83rd Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2013, if the student was participating in that
  program before the 2014-2015 school year;
               (3)  the recommended high school program, as that
  program existed before the adoption of __.B. No. __, 83rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, if the student was
  participating in that program before the 2014-2015 school year; or
               (4)  the advanced high school program, as that program
  existed before the adoption of __.B. No. __, 83rd Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2013, if the student was participating in that
  program before the 2014-2015 school year.
         (h-1)  This subsection and Subsection (h) expire September
  1, 2018.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 16.  (a)  Section 28.0253(e), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  A student who receives a high school diploma through the
  pilot program is considered to have earned a distinguished level of
  achievement under [completed] the foundation [recommended] high
  school program adopted under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)].  The
  student is not guaranteed admission to any institution of higher
  education or to any academic program at an institution of higher
  education solely on the basis of having received the diploma
  through the program.  The student may apply for admission to an
  institution of higher education for the first semester or other
  academic term after the semester or other academic term in which the
  student earns a diploma through the pilot program.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 17.  (a)  Sections 28.027(a) and (b), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In this section, "applied STEM course" means an applied
  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics course offered as
  part of a school district's career and technology education or
  technology applications curriculum.
         (b)  The State Board of Education shall establish a process
  under which an applied STEM course may be reviewed and approved for
  purposes of satisfying the mathematics and science curriculum
  requirements for the foundation [recommended] high school program
  [imposed] under Section 28.025 [28.025(b-1)(1)(A)] through
  substitution of the applied STEM course for a specific mathematics
  or science course otherwise authorized [required] under the
  foundation [recommended] high school program [and completed during
  the student's fourth year of mathematics or science course work].  
  The State Board of Education may only approve a course to substitute
  for a mathematics course taken after successful completion of
  Algebra I and geometry [and after successful completion of or
  concurrently with Algebra II].  The State Board of Education may
  only approve a course to substitute for a science course taken after
  successful completion of biology [and chemistry and after
  successful completion of or concurrently with physics].
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 18.  (a)  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 28.030 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.030.  HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SURVEY. (a)  The agency
  shall post on the agency's Internet website a survey to be completed
  by high school students. The information requested by the survey
  must include:
               (1)  the student's race, ethnicity, socioeconomic
  status, and gender;
               (2)  the name of the school district the student
  attends;
               (3)  whether the student is bilingual;
               (4)  details regarding the student's graduation plan,
  including whether the student will graduate under the foundation
  high school program or the distinguished level of achievement under
  the foundation high school program and the reason the student
  selected the graduation plan;
               (5)  any endorsement described by Section 28.025(c-1)
  earned by the student and the reason the student selected the
  endorsement; and
               (6)  the postgraduation plans of the student, including
  whether the student will attend a community college, institution of
  higher education, or trade school and any workforce goals of the
  student, and the student's reasons for choosing those particular
  postgraduation plans.
         (b)  A school district shall require each student to complete
  the survey before the student graduates from high school.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2017-2018
  school year.
         SECTION 19.  (a) Section 29.0821(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district may provide a flexible year program
  for students who did not or are likely not to perform successfully
  on an assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(a),
  (c), or (l) [39.023] or who would not otherwise be promoted to the
  next grade level.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 20.  (a)  Section 29.096(e), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  The commissioner shall establish minimum standards for
  a local collaborative agreement, including a requirement that the
  agreement must be signed by an authorized school district or
  open-enrollment charter school officer and an authorized
  representative of each of the other participating entities that is
  a partner in the collaboration.  The program must:
               (1)  limit participation in the program to students
  authorized to participate by a parent or other person standing in
  parental relationship;
               (2)  have as a primary goal graduation from high school
  [under at least the recommended high school program];
               (3)  provide for local businesses or other employers to
  offer paid employment or internship opportunities and advanced
  career and vocational training;
               (4)  include an outreach component and a lead
  educational staff member to identify and involve eligible students
  and public and private entities in participating in the program;
               (5)  serve a population of students of which at least 50
  percent are identified as students at risk of dropping out of
  school, as described by Section 29.081(d);
               (6)  allocate not more than 15 percent of grant funds
  and matching funds, as determined by the commissioner, to
  administrative expenses;
               (7)  include matching funds from any of the
  participating entities; and
               (8)  include any other requirements as determined by
  the council.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 21.  Section 29.182(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The state plan must include procedures designed to
  ensure that:
               (1)  all secondary and postsecondary students have the
  opportunity to participate in career and technology education
  programs;
               (2)  the state complies with requirements for
  supplemental federal career and technology education funding;
  [and]
               (3)  career and technology education is established as
  a part of the total education system of this state and constitutes
  an option for student learning that provides a rigorous course of
  study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002
  and under which a student may receive specific education in a career
  and technology program that:
                     (A)  incorporates competencies leading to
  academic and technical skill attainment;
                     (B)  leads to:
                           (i)  an industry-recognized license,
  credential, or certificate; or
                           (ii)  at the postsecondary level, an
  associate or baccalaureate degree;
                     (C)  includes opportunities for students to earn
  college credit for coursework; and
                     (D)  includes, as an integral part of the program,
  participation by students and teachers in activities of career and
  technical student organizations supported by the agency and the
  State Board of Education; and
               (4)  a school district provides, to the greatest extent
  possible, to a student participating in a career and technology
  education program opportunities to enroll in dual credit courses
  designed to lead to a degree, license, or certification as part of
  the program.
         SECTION 22.  The heading to Section 29.190, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.190.  SUBSIDY FOR MANUFACTURING CERTIFICATION
  EXAMINATION.
         SECTION 23.  (a)  Sections 29.190(a) and (c), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A student is entitled to a subsidy under this section
  if:
               (1)  the student:
                     (A)  successfully completes the career and
  technology program of a school district in which the student
  receives training and instruction for employment [in a current or
  emerging high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupation, as
  determined under Subsection (e)]; or
                     (B)  is enrolled in a special education program
  under Subchapter A; and
               (2)  the student passes a certification examination to
  qualify for a license or certificate for an [the] occupation in the
  manufacturing industry[; and
               [(3)     the student submits to the district a written
  application in the form, time, and manner required by the district
  for the district to subsidize the cost of an examination described
  by Subdivision (2)].
         (c)  On approval by the commissioner, the agency shall pay
  each school district an amount equal to the cost paid by the
  district [or student] for the certification examination.  To
  obtain reimbursement for a subsidy paid under this section, a
  district must:
               (1)  pay the fee for the examination [or pay the student
  the amount of the fee paid by the student for the examination]; and
               (2)  submit to the commissioner a written application
  on a form prescribed by the commissioner stating the amount of the
  fee paid under Subdivision (1) for the certification examination.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 24.  (a)  Section 29.402(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A person who is under 26 years of age is eligible to
  enroll in a dropout recovery program under this subchapter if the
  person:
               (1)  must complete not more than three course credits
  to complete the curriculum requirements for the foundation 
  [minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school program[, as
  appropriate,] for high school graduation; or
               (2)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
  end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Section
  39.023(c) or an assessment instrument administered under Section
  39.023(c) as that section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312
  (S.B. 1031), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 25.  (a)  Section 29.904(d), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  A plan developed under this section:
               (1)  must establish clear, achievable goals for
  increasing the percentage of the school district's graduating
  seniors, particularly the graduating seniors attending a high
  school described by Subsection (a), who enroll in an institution of
  higher education for the academic year following graduation;
               (2)  must establish an accurate method of measuring
  progress toward the goals established under Subdivision (1) that
  may include the percentage of district high school students and the
  percentage of students attending a district high school described
  by Subsection (a) who:
                     (A)  are enrolled in a course for which a student
  may earn college credit, such as an advanced placement or
  international baccalaureate course or a course offered through
  concurrent enrollment in high school and at an institution of
  higher education;
                     (B)  are enrolled in courses that meet the
  curriculum requirements for the distinguished level of achievement
  under the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program
  as determined under Section 28.025;
                     (C)  have submitted a free application for federal
  student aid (FAFSA);
                     (D)  are exempt under Section 51.3062(p) or (q)
  from administration of an assessment instrument under Section
  51.3062 or have performed successfully on an assessment instrument
  under Section 51.3062;
                     (E)  graduate from high school;
                     (F)  graduate from an institution of higher
  education; and
                     (G)  have taken college entrance examinations and
  the average score of those students on the examinations;
               (3)  must cover a period of at least five years; and
               (4)  may be directed at district students at any level
  of primary or secondary education.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 26.  (a) Section 30A.110(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Each student enrolled under this chapter in an
  electronic course offered through the state virtual school network
  must take any assessment instrument under Section 39.023(a), (b),
  (c), or (l) [39.023] that is administered to students who are
  provided instruction in the course material in the traditional
  classroom setting.  The administration of the assessment instrument
  to the student enrolled in the electronic course must be supervised
  by a proctor.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 27.  (a) Section 31.0211(c), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Subject to Subsection (d), funds allotted under this
  section may be used to:
               (1)  purchase:
                     (A)  materials on the list adopted by the
  commissioner, as provided by Section 31.0231;
                     (B)  instructional materials, regardless of
  whether the instructional materials are on the list adopted under
  Section 31.024;
                     (C)  consumable instructional materials,
  including workbooks;
                     (D)  instructional materials for use in bilingual
  education classes, as provided by Section 31.029;
                     (E)  instructional materials for use in college
  preparatory courses under Section 28.014, as provided by Section
  31.031;
                     (F)  supplemental instructional materials, as
  provided by Section 31.035;
                     (G) [(F)]  state-developed open-source
  instructional materials, as provided by Subchapter B-1;
                     (H) [(G)]  instructional materials and
  technological equipment under any continuing contracts of the
  district in effect on September 1, 2011; and
                     (I) [(H)]  technological equipment necessary to
  support the use of materials included on the list adopted by the
  commissioner under Section 31.0231 or any instructional materials
  purchased with an allotment under this section; and
               (2)  pay:
                     (A)  for training educational personnel directly
  involved in student learning in the appropriate use of
  instructional materials and for providing for access to
  technological equipment for instructional use; and
                     (B)  the salary and other expenses of an employee
  who provides technical support for the use of technological
  equipment directly involved in student learning.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 28.  (a) Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 31.031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 31.031.  COLLEGE PREPARATORY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.
  (a)  A school district may purchase with the district's
  instructional materials allotment or otherwise acquire
  instructional materials for use in college preparatory courses
  under Section 28.014.
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules regarding the
  purchase of instructional materials under this section.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 29.  (a)  The heading to Section 33.007, Education
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.007.  COUNSELING REGARDING POSTSECONDARY [HIGHER]
  EDUCATION.
         (b)  This section takes effect beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 30.  (a)  Sections 33.007(a) and (b), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Each school counselor at an elementary, middle, or
  junior high school, including an open-enrollment charter school
  offering those grades, shall advise students and their parents or
  guardians regarding the importance of postsecondary [higher]
  education, coursework designed to prepare students for
  postsecondary [higher] education, and financial aid availability
  and requirements.
         (b)  During the first school year a student is enrolled in a
  high school or at the high school level in an open-enrollment
  charter school, and again during each [a student's senior] year of a
  student's enrollment in high school or at the high school level, a
  school counselor shall provide information about postsecondary
  [higher] education to the student and the student's parent or
  guardian.  The information must include information regarding:
               (1)  the importance of postsecondary [higher]
  education;
               (2)  the advantages of earning an endorsement and a
  performance acknowledgment and completing the distinguished level
  of achievement under the foundation [recommended or advanced] high
  school program [adopted] under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)];
               (3)  the disadvantages of taking courses to prepare for
  a high school equivalency examination relative to the benefits of
  taking courses leading to a high school diploma;
               (4)  financial aid eligibility;
               (5)  instruction on how to apply for federal financial
  aid;
               (6)  the center for financial aid information
  established under Section 61.0776;
               (7)  the automatic admission of certain students to
  general academic teaching institutions as provided by Section
  51.803;
               (8)  the eligibility and academic performance
  requirements for the TEXAS Grant as provided by Subchapter M,
  Chapter 56; and
               (9)  the availability of programs in the district under
  which a student may earn college credit, including advanced
  placement programs, dual credit programs, joint high school and
  college credit programs, and international baccalaureate programs.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 31.  (a) Section 33.0812(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The State Board of Education by rule shall prohibit
  participation in a University Interscholastic League area,
  regional, or state competition:
               (1)  on Monday through Thursday of the school week in
  which the primary administration of assessment instruments under
  Section 39.023(a), (c), (c-2), or (l) occurs; or
               (2)  if the primary administration of the assessment
  instruments is completed before Thursday of the school week,
  beginning on Monday and ending on the last school day on which the
  assessment instruments are administered.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 32.  (a) Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (b), (c), (c-2), (c-3), (e), and (h) and
  adding Subsections (b-1), (e-1), (e-2), and (e-3) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The agency shall develop or adopt appropriate
  criterion-referenced alternative assessment instruments to be
  administered to each student in a special education program under
  Subchapter A, Chapter 29, for whom an assessment instrument adopted
  under Subsection (a), even with allowable accommodations, would not
  provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as
  determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal
  committee, including assessment instruments approved by the
  commissioner that measure growth. The assessment instruments
  developed or adopted under this subsection, including the
  assessment instruments approved by the commissioner, must, to the
  extent allowed under federal law, provide a district with options
  for the assessment of students under this subsection.
         (b-1)  The agency, in conjunction with appropriate
  interested persons, shall redevelop assessment instruments adopted
  or developed under Subsection (b) for administration to
  significantly cognitively disabled students in a manner consistent
  with federal law. An assessment instrument under this subsection
  may not require a teacher to prepare tasks or materials for a
  student who will be administered such an assessment instrument.
  Assessment instruments adopted or developed under this subsection
  shall be administered not later than the 2014-2015 school year.
         (c)  The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
  instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, [Algebra II,
  geometry,] biology, [chemistry, physics, English I,] English II,
  [English III, world geography, world history,] and United States
  history.  The Algebra I[, Algebra II, and geometry] end-of-course
  assessment instrument [instruments] must be administered with the
  aid of technology.  A school district shall comply with State Board
  of Education rules regarding administration of the assessment
  instruments listed in this subsection and may [shall] adopt a
  policy that requires a student's performance on an end-of-course
  assessment instrument for a course listed in this subsection in
  which the student is enrolled to be considered in determining
  [account for 15 percent of] the student's final grade for the
  course.  [If a student retakes an end-of-course assessment
  instrument for a course listed in this subsection, as provided by
  Section 39.025, a school district is not required to use the
  student's performance on the subsequent administration or
  administrations of the assessment instrument to determine the
  student's final grade for the course.]  If a student is in a special
  education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's
  admission, review, and dismissal committee shall determine whether
  any allowable modification is necessary in administering to the
  student an assessment instrument required under this subsection.  
  The State Board of Education shall administer the assessment
  instruments.  The State Board of Education shall adopt a schedule
  for the administration of end-of-course assessment instruments
  specified in this subsection and Subsection (c-2) that complies
  with the requirements of Subsection (c-3).
         (c-2)  The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
  instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra II and English
  III, which shall be administered to a student at the student's
  option. The Algebra II end-of-course assessment instrument must be
  administered with the aid of technology. A school district shall
  comply with State Board of Education rules regarding administration
  of the Algebra II and English III end-of-course assessment
  instruments. [The agency may adopt end-of-course assessment
  instruments for courses not listed in Subsection (c).]  A student's
  performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted
  under this subsection is not subject to the performance
  requirements established under Subsection (c) or Section 39.025.
         (c-3)  In adopting a schedule for the administration of
  assessment instruments under this section, the State Board of
  Education [shall require]:
               (1)  shall require assessment instruments administered
  under Subsection (a) to be administered on a schedule so that the
  first assessment instrument is administered at least two weeks
  later than the date on which the first assessment instrument was
  administered under Subsection (a) during the 2006-2007 school year;
  [and]
               (2)  shall require  the spring administration of
  end-of-course assessment instruments under Subsection (c) or the
  end-of-course assessment instrument in Algebra II under Subsection
  (c-2) to occur in each school district during the latest
  practicable [not earlier than the first full] week as determined by
  the commissioner, but not earlier than the third full week in May,
  except that the spring administration of the end-of-course
  assessment instruments in [English I,] English II Writing[, and
  English III] must be permitted to occur at an earlier date; and
               (3)  shall permit the spring administration of the
  end-of-course assessment instruments in English III Writing under
  Subsection (c-2) to occur earlier than the third full week in May.
         (e)  Under rules adopted by the State Board of Education,
  every third year, the agency shall release the questions and answer
  keys to each assessment instrument administered under Subsection
  (a), (b), (c), (c-2), (d), or (l), excluding any assessment
  instrument administered to a student for the purpose of retaking
  the assessment instrument, after the last time the instrument is
  administered for that school year.  To ensure a valid bank of
  questions for use each year, the agency is not required to release a
  question that is being field-tested and was not used to compute the
  student's score on the instrument.  The agency shall also release,
  under board rule, each question that is no longer being
  field-tested and that was not used to compute a student's score.
  During the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the agency shall
  release the questions and answer keys to assessment instruments as
  described by this subsection each year.
         (e-1)  Under rules adopted by the commissioner, for the
  2012-2013 school year, the agency each year shall release the
  questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument
  administered under Subsection (a), (c), (d), or (l), excluding any
  assessment instrument administered to a student for the purpose of
  retaking the assessment instrument, after the last time the
  instrument is administered for that school year. This subsection
  expires December 31, 2013.
         (e-2)  Under rules adopted by the commissioner, for the
  2013-2014 school year, the agency each year shall release the
  questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument
  administered under Subsection (b), (c), (c-2), or (l), excluding
  any assessment instrument administered to a student for the purpose
  of retaking the assessment instrument and any assessment instrument
  covering a subject or course for which the questions and answer keys
  for the 2012-2013 assessment instrument covering that subject or
  course were released, after the last time the instrument is
  administered for the 2013-2014 school year. This subsection expires
  December 31, 2014.
         (e-3)  Under rules adopted by the commissioner, for the
  2013-2014 school year, the agency each year shall release the
  questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument
  administered under Subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (l) during the
  2011-2012 school year after the last time any assessment instrument
  is administered for the 2013-2014 school year. This subsection
  expires December 31, 2014.
         (h)  The agency shall notify school districts and campuses of
  the results of assessment instruments administered under this
  section [at the earliest possible date determined by the State
  Board of Education but] not later than the 21st day after the date
  the assessment instrument is administered [beginning of the
  subsequent school year].  The school district shall disclose to
  each district teacher the results of assessment instruments
  administered to students taught by the teacher in the subject for
  the school year in which the assessment instrument is administered.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 33.  (a)  Section 39.0232, Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0232.  USE OF END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT AS
  PLACEMENT INSTRUMENT; CERTAIN USES PROHIBITED. (a) To the extent
  practicable, the agency shall ensure that any high school
  end-of-course assessment instrument developed by the agency is
  developed in such a manner that the assessment instrument may be
  used to determine the appropriate placement of a student in a course
  of the same subject matter at an institution of higher education.
         (b)  A student's performance on an end-of-course assessment
  instrument may not be used:
               (1)  in determining the student's class ranking for any
  purpose, including entitlement to automatic college admission
  under Section 51.803 or 51.804; or
               (2)  as a sole criterion in the determination of
  whether to admit the student to a general academic teaching
  institution in this state.
         (c)  Subsection (b)(2) does not prohibit a general academic
  teaching institution from implementing an admission policy that
  takes into consideration a student's performance on an
  end-of-course assessment instrument in addition to other criteria.
         (d)  In this section, "general academic teaching
  institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 34.  (a) Sections 39.0233(a) and (b), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency, in coordination with the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt a series of questions to
  be included in an end-of-course assessment instrument administered
  under Sections [Section] 39.023(c) and (c-2) to be used for
  purposes of Section 51.3062. The questions adopted under this
  subsection must be developed in a manner consistent with any
  college readiness standards adopted under Sections 39.233 [39.113]
  and 51.3062.
         (b)  In addition to the questions adopted under Subsection
  (a), the agency shall adopt a series of questions to be included in
  an end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Sections
  [Section] 39.023(c) and (c-2) to be used for purposes of
  identifying students who are likely to succeed in an advanced high
  school course. A school district shall notify a student who
  performs at a high level on the questions adopted under this
  subsection and the student's parent or guardian of the student's
  performance and potential to succeed in an advanced high school
  course. A school district may not require a student to perform at a
  particular level on the questions adopted under this subsection in
  order to be eligible to enroll in an advanced high school course.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 35.  (a) Section 39.024(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board shall ensure that the Algebra II and English III
  end-of-course assessment instruments adopted [required] under
  Section 39.023(c-2) [39.023(c)] are developed to be capable of,
  beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, measuring college
  readiness.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 36.  (a) Section 39.0241(a-2), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-2)  For the purpose of establishing performance across
  grade levels, the commissioner shall establish:
               (1)  the performance standards for the Algebra II and
  English III end-of-course assessment instruments, as provided
  under Section 39.024(b) and under Subsection (a);
               (2)  the performance standards for the Algebra I and
  English II end-of-course assessment instruments, as determined
  based on studies under Section 39.0242 that correlate student
  performance on the Algebra I and English II end-of-course
  assessment instruments with student performance on the Algebra II
  and English III assessment instruments;
               (3)  [the performance standards for the English I
  end-of-course assessment instrument, as determined based on
  studies under Section 39.0242 that correlate student performance on
  the English I end-of-course assessment instrument with student
  performance on the English II assessment instrument;
               [(4)]  the performance standards for the grade eight
  assessment instruments, as determined based on studies under
  Section 39.0242 that correlate student performance on the grade
  eight assessment instruments with student performance on the
  Algebra I and English II [I] end-of-course assessment instruments
  in the same content area; and
               (4) [(5)]  the performance standards on the assessment
  instruments in each of grades three through seven, as determined
  based on studies under Section 39.0242 that correlate student
  performance in the same content area on the assessment instrument
  for each grade with student performance on the assessment
  instrument in the succeeding grade.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 37.  (a) Section 39.0242(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Before the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, the
  agency shall analyze the data collected under Subsection (a) to
  substantiate:
               (1)  the correlation between satisfactory student
  performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241 on
  the grade three, four, five, six, or seven assessment instruments
  with satisfactory performance under the same performance standard
  on the assessment instruments in the same content area for the next
  grade level;
               (2)  the correlation between satisfactory student
  performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241 on
  the grade eight assessment instruments with satisfactory
  performance under the same performance standard on the Algebra I
  and English II [I] end-of-course assessment instruments in the same
  content area;
               (3)  [the correlation between satisfactory student
  performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241 on
  the English I end-of-course assessment instrument with
  satisfactory performance under the same performance standard on the
  English II end-of-course assessment instrument;
               [(4)]  the correlation between satisfactory student
  performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241 on
  the English II end-of-course assessment instrument with
  satisfactory performance under the same performance standard on the
  English III end-of-course assessment instrument; and
               (4) [(5)]  the correlation between satisfactory
  student performance for each performance standard under Section
  39.0241 on the Algebra I end-of-course assessment instrument with
  satisfactory performance under the same performance standard on the
  Algebra II end-of-course assessment instrument.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 38.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.0243 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0243.  COLLEGE READINESS ASSESSMENT STUDY. The
  agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board jointly
  shall conduct a study of the feasibility and costs of:
               (1)  assessing college readiness of public high school
  students by substituting the instruments designated for use by
  institutions of higher education in assessing students' readiness
  to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework under Section
  51.3062 for the Algebra II and English III end-of-course
  assessments used to measure college readiness under Section
  39.024(b); and
               (2)  providing for a school district or open-enrollment
  charter school, in cooperation with an institution of higher
  education, to develop a college readiness preparation plan for
  students who do not demonstrate readiness to enroll in
  freshman-level academic coursework.
         SECTION 39.  (a)  Section 39.025, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (a), (a-1), (a-2), (b), and (b-2) and
  adding Subsection (a-4) to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student
  participating in the recommended or advanced high school program to
  be administered each end-of-course assessment instrument listed in
  Section 39.023(c) and requiring a student participating in the
  minimum high school program to be administered an end-of-course
  assessment instrument listed in Section 39.023(c) only for a course
  in which the student is enrolled and for which an end-of-course
  assessment instrument is administered. A student is required to
  achieve[, in each subject in the foundation curriculum under
  Section 28.002(a)(1), a cumulative score that is at least equal to
  the product of the number of end-of-course assessment instruments
  administered to the student in that subject and] a scale score that
  indicates satisfactory performance, as determined by the
  commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), on each end-of-course
  assessment instrument listed under Section 39.023(c) that is
  administered to the student as provided by this subsection. For
  each scale score required under this subsection that is not based on
  a 100-point scale scoring system, the commissioner shall provide
  for conversion, in accordance with commissioner rule, of the scale
  score to an equivalent score based on a 100-point scale scoring
  system.  [A student must achieve a minimum score as determined by
  the commissioner to be within a reasonable range of the scale score
  under Section 39.0241(a) on an end-of-course assessment instrument
  for the score to count towards the student's cumulative score.   For
  purposes of this subsection, a student's cumulative score is
  determined using the student's highest score on each end-of-course
  assessment instrument administered to the student.]  A student may
  not receive a high school diploma until the student has performed
  satisfactorily on [the] end-of-course assessment instruments in
  the manner provided under this subsection.  This subsection does
  not require a student to demonstrate readiness to enroll in an
  institution of higher education.
         (a-1)  A student enrolled in a college preparatory course
  under Section 28.014 who satisfies the Texas Success Initiative
  (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(f) on an
  assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(c) administered at the end
  of the college preparatory course satisfies the requirements
  concerning an end-of-course assessment in an equivalent course as
  prescribed by Subsection (a).  The commissioner [by rule] shall
  determine a method by which a student's satisfactory performance on
  an advanced placement test, an international baccalaureate
  examination, an SAT Subject Test, the SAT, the ACT, or any
  nationally recognized norm-referenced [another] assessment
  instrument used by institutions of higher education to award course
  credit based on satisfactory performance on the [determined by the
  commissioner to be at least as rigorous as an end-of-course]
  assessment instrument shall [adopted under Section 39.023(c) may]
  be used to satisfy [as a factor in determining whether the student
  satisfies] the requirements concerning an end-of-course assessment
  instrument in an equivalent course as prescribed by [of] Subsection
  (a)[, including the cumulative score requirement of that
  subsection]. The commissioner shall [by rule may] determine a
  method by which a student's satisfactory performance on the PSAT [a
  Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) assessment] or the
  ACT-Plan shall [a preliminary American College Test (ACT)
  assessment may] be used to satisfy [as a factor in determining
  whether the student satisfies] the requirements concerning an
  end-of-course assessment instrument in an equivalent course as
  prescribed by [of] Subsection (a).  A student who fails to perform
  satisfactorily on a test or other assessment instrument authorized
  under this subsection, other than the PSAT or the ACT-Plan, may
  retake that test or other assessment instrument for purposes of
  this subsection or may take the appropriate end-of-course
  assessment instrument. A student who fails to perform
  satisfactorily on the PSAT or the ACT-Plan must take the
  appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument. The commissioner
  shall adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this
  subsection.
         (a-2)  This subsection applies only to a student who, before
  entering the ninth grade in the 2011-2012 or 2012-2013 school year,
  completed a course before the 2011-2012 school year in a subject for
  which the student received high school credit and for which an
  end-of-course assessment instrument under Section 39.023 is
  required during the 2013-2014 school year or a later school year,
  such as Algebra I.  The commissioner shall determine a method by
  which a student's satisfactory performance on an end-of-course
  assessment instrument for a course in the same general subject area
  in which the student is enrolled during or after the ninth grade,
  such as geometry, shall be used to satisfy the requirements for the
  end-of-course assessment instrument for the course completed
  before entering the ninth grade and before the 2011-2012 school
  year. The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for the
  administration of this section. This subsection expires September
  1, 2016 [In addition to the cumulative score requirements under
  Subsection (a), a student must achieve a score that meets or exceeds
  the score determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a)
  for English III and Algebra II end-of-course assessment instruments
  to graduate under the recommended high school program].
         (a-4)  The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a
  student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter
  29, shall determine whether, to receive a high school diploma, the
  student is required to achieve satisfactory performance on
  end-of-course assessment instruments.
         (b)  Each time an end-of-course assessment instrument
  adopted under Section 39.023(c) is administered, a student who
  failed to achieve a [minimum] score requirement under Subsection
  (a) may [shall] retake the assessment instrument. A student who
  fails to perform satisfactorily on an Algebra II or English III
  end-of-course assessment instrument under the college readiness
  performance standard, as provided under Section 39.024(b), may
  retake the assessment instrument. [Any other student may retake an
  end-of-course assessment instrument for any reason.] A student is
  not required to retake a course as a condition of retaking an
  end-of-course assessment instrument.
         (b-2)  If a school district determines that a student, on
  completion of grade 11, is unlikely to achieve the [cumulative]
  score requirement under this section [requirements] for one or more
  end-of-course assessment instruments [subjects] prescribed under 
  [by] Subsection (a) for receiving a high school diploma, the
  district shall require the student to enroll in a corresponding
  content-area college preparatory course for which an end-of-course
  assessment instrument has been adopted, if available.  A student
  who enrolls in a college preparatory course described by this
  subsection shall be administered an end-of-course assessment
  instrument for the course, with the end-of-course assessment
  instrument scored on a scale as determined by the commissioner [not
  to exceed 20 percent of the cumulative score requirements required
  to graduate as determined under Subsection (a)].  A student may use
  the student's score on the end-of-course assessment instrument for
  the college preparatory course towards satisfying the [cumulative]
  score requirement under this section [requirements prescribed by
  Subsection (a)].
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 40.  (a)  Effective September 1, 2014, Section
  39.025(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student
  [participating] in the foundation [recommended or advanced] high
  school program under Section 28.025 to be administered each
  end-of-course assessment instrument listed in Section 39.023(c)
  [and requiring a student participating in the minimum high school
  program to be administered an end-of-course assessment instrument
  listed in Section 39.023(c) only for a course in which the student
  is enrolled and for which an end-of-course assessment instrument is
  administered]. A student is required to achieve[, in each subject
  in the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1), a
  cumulative score that is at least equal to the product of the number
  of end-of-course assessment instruments administered to the
  student in that subject and] a scale score that indicates
  satisfactory performance, as determined by the commissioner under
  Section 39.0241(a), on each end-of-course assessment instrument
  listed under Section 39.023(c). For each scale score required
  under this subsection that is not based on a 100-point scale scoring
  system, the commissioner shall provide for conversion, in
  accordance with commissioner rule, of the scale score to an
  equivalent score based on a 100-point scale scoring system.  [A
  student must achieve a minimum score as determined by the
  commissioner to be within a reasonable range of the scale score
  under Section 39.0241(a) on an end-of-course assessment instrument
  for the score to count towards the student's cumulative score.   For
  purposes of this subsection, a student's cumulative score is
  determined using the student's highest score on each end-of-course
  assessment instrument administered to the student.]  A student may
  not receive a high school diploma until the student has performed
  satisfactorily on [the] end-of-course assessment instruments in
  the manner provided under this subsection.  This subsection does
  not require a student to demonstrate readiness to enroll in an
  institution of higher education.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 41.  (a) Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 39.0263 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0263.  ADMINISTRATION OF DISTRICT-REQUIRED
  BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR
  STATE-ADMINISTERED ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS. (a) In this section,
  "benchmark assessment instrument" means a district-required
  assessment instrument designed to prepare students for a
  corresponding state-administered assessment instrument.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a school district
  may not administer to any student more than two benchmark
  assessment instruments to prepare the student for a corresponding
  state-administered assessment instrument.
         (c)  The prohibition prescribed by this section does not
  apply to the administration of a college preparation assessment
  instrument, including the PSAT, the ACT-Plan, the SAT, or the ACT,
  an advanced placement test, an international baccalaureate
  examination, or an independent classroom examination designed or
  adopted and administered by a classroom teacher.
         (d)  A parent of or person standing in parental relation to a
  student who has special needs, as determined in accordance with
  commissioner rule, may request administration to the student of
  additional benchmark assessment instruments.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 42.  (a) Section 39.027, Education Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  Unless a student is enrolled in a school in the United
  States for a period of at least 60 consecutive days during a year,
  the student may not be considered to be enrolled in a school in the
  United States for that year for the purpose of determining a number
  of years under Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3).
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 43.  (a) Sections 39.034(a) and (c), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall determine a method by which the
  agency may measure annual improvement in student achievement from
  one school year to the next on an assessment instrument required
  under this subchapter or on an end-of-course assessment instrument
  adopted under Section 39.023(c-2).
         (c)  The agency shall use a student's previous years'
  performance data on an assessment instrument described by
  Subsection (a) [required under this subchapter] to determine the
  student's expected annual improvement. The agency shall report
  that expected level of annual improvement and the actual level of
  annual improvement achieved to the district. The report must state
  whether the student fell below, met, or exceeded the agency's
  expectation for improvement.
         (b)  This section takes effect beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 44.  (a) Section 39.035(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Subsection (b), the agency may conduct field
  testing of questions for any assessment instrument administered
  under Section 39.023(a), (b), (c), (c-2), (d), or (l) that is
  separate from the administration of the assessment instrument not
  more frequently than every other school year.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 45.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.038 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.038.  RESTRICTION ON APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY
  COMMITTEES. The commissioner may not appoint a person to a
  committee or panel that advises the commissioner or agency
  regarding state accountability systems under this title or the
  content or administration of an assessment instrument if the person
  is reimbursed, retained, or employed by an assessment instrument
  vendor.
         SECTION 46.  (a)  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 39.039 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.039.  PROHIBITION ON POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION OR
  ACTIVITY BY CERTAIN CONTRACTORS.  (a) A person who is an agent of an
  entity that has been contracted to develop or implement assessment
  instruments required under Section 39.023 commits an offense if the
  person makes or authorizes a political contribution to or takes
  part in, directly or indirectly, the campaign of any person seeking
  election to or serving on the State Board of Education.
         (b)  A person who is an agent of an entity that has been
  contracted to develop or implement assessment instruments required
  under Section 39.023 commits an offense if the person serves as a
  member of a formal or informal advisory committee established by
  the commissioner, agency staff, or the State Board of Education to
  advise the commissioner, agency staff, or the State Board of
  Education regarding policies or implementation of the requirements
  of this subchapter.
         (c)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
         (b)  This section applies September 1, 2013.
         SECTION 47.  (a)  Section 39.053, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (c) and (g-1) and adding Subsections (c-1)
  and (d-2) to read as follows:
         (c)  Indicators of student achievement adopted under this
  section must include:
               (1)  the results of assessment instruments required
  under Sections 39.023(a), (c), and (l), including the results of
  assessment instruments required for graduation retaken by a
  student, aggregated across grade levels by subject area, including:
                     (A)  for the performance standard determined by
  the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a):
                           (i)  the percentage of students who
  performed satisfactorily on the assessment instruments, aggregated
  across grade levels by subject area; and
                           (ii)  for students who did not perform
  satisfactorily, the percentage of students who met the standard for
  annual improvement, as determined by the agency under Section
  39.034, on the assessment instruments, aggregated across grade
  levels by subject area; and
                     (B)  for the college readiness performance
  standard as determined under Section 39.0241:
                           (i)  the percentage of students who
  performed satisfactorily on the assessment instruments, aggregated
  across grade levels by subject area; and
                           (ii)  for students who did not perform
  satisfactorily, the percentage of students who met the standard for
  annual improvement, as determined by the agency under Section
  39.034, on the assessment instruments, aggregated across grade
  levels by subject area;
               (2)  dropout rates, including dropout rates and
  district completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12, computed
  in accordance with standards and definitions adopted by the
  National Center for Education Statistics of the United States
  Department of Education; [and]
               (3)  high school graduation rates, computed in
  accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance
  with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et
  seq.);
               (4)  the percentage of students who successfully
  completed the curriculum requirements for the distinguished level
  of achievement under the foundation high school program;
               (5)  the percentage of students who successfully
  completed the curriculum requirements for an endorsement under
  Section 28.025(c-1); and
               (6)  at least three additional indicators of student
  achievement to evaluate district and campus performance, which must
  include either:
                     (A)  the percentage of students who satisfy the
  Texas Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks
  prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under
  Section 51.3062(f) on an assessment instrument in reading,
  writing, or mathematics designated by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(c); or
                     (B)  the number of students who earn:
                           (i)  at least 12 hours of postsecondary
  credit required for the foundation high school program under
  Section 28.025 or to earn an endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);
                           (ii)  at least 30 hours of postsecondary
  credit required for the foundation high school program under
  Section 28.025 or to earn an endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);
                           (iii)  an associate's degree; or
                           (iv)  an industry certification.
         (A)  An indicator adopted under this subsection that would
  measure improvements in student achievement cannot negatively
  affect the commissioner's review of a school district or campus if
  that district or campus is already achieving at the highest level
  for that indicator.
         (c-1)  The commissioner by rule shall determine a method by
  which a student's performance may be included in determining the
  performance rating of a school district or campus under Section
  39.054 if, before the student graduates, the student:
               (1)  satisfies the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
  college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(f) on an
  assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(c); or
               (2)  performs satisfactorily on an assessment
  instrument under Section 39.023(c), notwithstanding Subsection
  (d).
         (d-2)  An end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under
  Section 39.023(c-2) may not be used as an indicator of student
  achievement in determining the performance rating of a school
  district or campus under Section 39.054.
         (g-1)  In computing dropout and completion rates under
  Subsection (c)(2), the commissioner shall exclude:
               (1)  students who are ordered by a court to attend a
  high school equivalency certificate program but who have not yet
  earned a high school equivalency certificate;
               (2)  students who were previously reported to the state
  as dropouts, including a student who is reported as a dropout,
  reenrolls, and drops out again, regardless of the number of times of
  reenrollment and dropping out;
               (3)  students in attendance who are not in membership
  for purposes of average daily attendance;
               (4)  students whose initial enrollment in a school in
  the United States in grades 7 through 12 was as unschooled refugees
  or asylees as defined by Section 39.027(a-1);
               (5)  students who are in the district exclusively as a
  function of having been detained at a county detention facility but
  are otherwise not students of the district in which the facility is
  located; and
               (6)  students who are incarcerated in state jails and
  federal penitentiaries as adults and as persons certified to stand
  trial as adults.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 48.  (a)  Section 39.053(f), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (f)  Annually, the commissioner shall define the state
  standard for the current school year for each student achievement
  indicator described by Subsection (c) and shall project the state
  standards for each indicator for the following two school years.  
  The commissioner shall periodically raise the state standards for
  the student achievement indicator described by Subsection
  (c)(1)(B)(i) for accreditation as necessary to reach the goals of
  achieving, by not later than the 2019-2020 school year:
               (1)  student performance in this state, disaggregated
  by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, that ranks nationally
  in the top 10 states in terms of college readiness; and
               (2)  student performance, [including the percentage of
  students graduating under the recommended or advanced high school
  program,] with no significant achievement gaps by race, ethnicity,
  and socioeconomic status.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 49.  (a)  Sections 39.054(a) and (b), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall adopt rules to evaluate school
  district and campus performance and[, not later than August 8 of
  each year,] assign each district and campus a performance rating of
  A, B, C, D, or F. In adopting rules under this subsection, the
  commissioner shall determine the criteria for each designated
  letter performance rating and designate A, B, and C letter
  performance ratings as reflecting [that reflects] acceptable
  performance and the D and F letter performance ratings as
  reflecting [or] unacceptable performance. Not later than August 8
  of each year, the performance rating of each district and campus
  shall be made publicly available as provided by rules adopted under
  this subsection. If a district or campus received a performance
  rating of unacceptable performance for the preceding school year,
  the commissioner shall notify the district of a subsequent such
  designation on or before June 15.
         (b)  In evaluating performance, the commissioner shall
  evaluate against state standards and consider the performance of
  each campus in a school district and each open-enrollment charter
  school on the basis of the campus's or school's performance on the
  student achievement indicators adopted under Section 39.053, other
  than, to the greatest extent possible, the student achievement
  indicator adopted under Section 39.053(c)(1) [39.053(c)].
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 50.  (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 39.0541 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0541.  STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING COMPLETION AND
  DROPOUT RATES. For purposes of evaluating a school district or
  campus or an open-enrollment charter school for adequate yearly
  progress under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C.
  Section 6301 et seq.) and, notwithstanding Section 39.053(c)(2),
  for accountability under this chapter and for performance under an
  agency performance-based monitoring analysis system:
               (1)  a student who graduates from a school district
  campus or open-enrollment charter school is considered a high
  school graduate of the campus or school regardless of whether the
  student graduates with the student's ninth grade cohort; and
               (2)  consistent with Section 39.053(g-1)(2), a student
  who was previously reported to the state as a dropout, including a
  student who is reported as a dropout, reenrolls, and drops out
  again, regardless of the number of times of reenrollment and
  dropping out, shall be excluded in computing completion and dropout
  rates.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 51.  (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 39.0545 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0545.  SCHOOL DISTRICT EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE IN
  COMMUNITY AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT; COMPLIANCE. (a) Each school
  district shall evaluate the district's performance and the
  performance of each campus in the district in community and student
  engagement and in compliance as provided by this section and assign
  the district and each campus an acceptable performance rating of A,
  B, or C, or an unacceptable performance rating of D or F for both
  overall performance and each individual evaluation factor listed
  under Subsection (b). Not later than August 8 of each year, the
  district shall report each performance rating to the agency and
  make the performance ratings publicly available as provided by
  commissioner rule.
         (b)  For purposes of assigning the performance ratings under
  Subsection (a), a school district must evaluate:
               (1)  the following programs or specific categories of
  performance at each campus:
                     (A)  fine arts;
                     (B)  wellness and physical education;
                     (C)  community and parental involvement, such as:
                           (i)  opportunities for parents to assist
  students in preparing for assessments under Section 39.023;
                           (ii)  tutoring programs that support
  students taking assessments under Section 39.023; and
                           (iii)  opportunities for students to
  participate in community service projects;
                     (D)  the 21st Century Workforce Development
  program;
                     (E)  the second language acquisition program;
                     (F)  the digital learning environment;
                     (G)  dropout prevention strategies; and
                     (H)  educational programs for gifted and talented
  students; and
               (2)  the record of the district and each campus
  regarding compliance with statutory reporting and policy
  requirements.
         (c)  A school district shall use criteria developed by the
  commissioner as described by Subsection (d)(1) in conjunction with
  criteria developed by a local committee established as provided by
  Subsection (d)(2) to evaluate the performance of a campus under
  Subsection (b)(1).
         (d)  The commissioner shall:
               (1)  in accordance with commissioner rule, establish a
  separate committee that includes members as described by Sections
  39.204(c) and (d) to develop criteria for each program or category
  of performance under Subsection (b)(1) in the manner provided for
  developing criteria for a distinction designation under Section
  39.204(e); and
               (2)  by commissioner rule, prescribe requirements for
  school districts to use to establish a local committee to develop
  district criteria.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 52.  (a)  Section 39.056, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (f) to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The agency shall give written notice to the
  superintendent and the board of trustees of a school district of any
  impending investigation of the district's accreditation.
         (e)  The investigators shall report orally and in writing to
  the board of trustees of the school district and, as appropriate, to
  campus administrators and shall make recommendations concerning
  any necessary improvements or sources of aid such as regional
  education service centers.
         (f)  A district which takes action with regard to the
  recommendations provided by the investigators as prescribed by
  Subsection (e) shall make a reasonable effort to seek assistance
  from a third party in developing an action plan to improve district
  performance using improvement techniques that are goal oriented and
  research based.
         SECTION 53.  (a)  Section 39.057(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall 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 graduate
  under the minimum high school program;
               [(11)]  when excessive numbers of students eligible to
  enroll fail to complete an advanced mathematics [Algebra II] course
  or any other advanced course determined by the commissioner [as
  distinguishing between students participating in the recommended
  high school program from students participating in the minimum high
  school program];
               (11) [(12)]  when resource allocation practices as
  evaluated under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for
  significant improvement in resource allocation; [or]
               (12)  when a disproportionate number of students of a
  particular demographic group is graduating with a particular
  category of endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);
               (13)  when an excessive number of students is
  graduating with a particular category of endorsement under Section
  28.025(c-1); or
               (14) [(13)]  as the commissioner otherwise determines
  necessary.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 54.  (a)  Section 39.082, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (b-1),
  (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (h-1), and (i) to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall, in consultation with the
  comptroller, develop and implement separate financial
  accountability rating systems for school districts and
  open-enrollment charter schools in this state that:
               (1)  distinguish among school districts and
  distinguish among open-enrollment charter schools, as applicable,
  based on levels of financial performance; [and]
               (2)  include procedures to:
                     (A)  provide additional transparency to public
  education finance; and
                     (B)  enable the commissioner and school district
  and open-enrollment charter school administrators to provide
  meaningful financial oversight and improvement; and
               (3)  include processes for anticipating the future
  financial solvency of each school district and open-enrollment
  charter school, including analysis of district and school revenues
  and expenditures for preceding school years.
         (b)  The system must include uniform indicators adopted by
  [the] commissioner rule by which to measure the financial
  management performance and future financial solvency of a district
  or open-enrollment charter school.  In adopting indicators under
  this subsection, the commissioner shall assign a point value to
  each indicator to be used in a scoring matrix developed by the
  commissioner.  Any reference to a teacher in an indicator adopted by
  the commissioner under this subsection means a classroom teacher.
         (b-1)  In adopting uniform indicators under Subsection (b),
  the commissioner by rule shall adopt an indicator that recognizes a
  school district or open-enrollment charter school that publishes
  the district's or school's check register on the district's or
  school's Internet website.  A district or school achieves the
  highest level of financial management performance under this
  indicator by updating its published check register at least
  monthly.  A district or school that updates its register less
  frequently achieves a lower level of financial management
  performance as provided by rule.
         (d)  The commissioner shall evaluate indicators adopted
  under Subsection (b) at least once every three years.
         (e)  Under the financial accountability rating system
  developed under this section, each school district or
  open-enrollment charter school, as applicable, shall be assigned a
  financial accountability rating of A, B, C, D, or F. In adopting
  rules under this section, the commissioner, in consultation with
  the comptroller, shall determine the criteria for each designated
  letter performance rating and designate A, B, and C letter
  performance ratings as passing ratings and the D and F letter
  performance ratings as failing ratings.
         (f)  A district or open-enrollment charter school shall
  receive a failing rating under the system if the district or school
  fails to achieve a satisfactory rating on:
               (1)  an indicator adopted under Subsection (b) relating
  to financial management or solvency that the commissioner
  determines to be critical; or
               (2)  a category of indicators that suggest trends
  leading to financial distress as determined by the commissioner.
         (g)  Before assigning a final rating under the system, the
  commissioner shall assign each district or open-enrollment charter
  school a preliminary rating.  A district or school may submit
  additional information to the commissioner relating to any
  indicator on which performance was considered unsatisfactory. The
  commissioner shall consider any additional information submitted
  by a district or school before assigning a final rating.  If the
  commissioner determines that the additional information negates
  the concern raised by the indicator on which performance was
  considered unsatisfactory, the commissioner may not penalize the
  district or school on the basis of the indicator.
         (h)  The commissioner shall adopt rules for the
  implementation of this section.
         (h-1)  The commissioner shall adopt initial rules necessary
  to implement the changes to this section made by the 83rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, not later than March 1, 2015.  
  This subsection expires April 1, 2015.
         (i)  Not later than August 8 of each year, the financial
  accountability rating of each school district and open-enrollment
  charter school under the financial accountability rating system
  developed under this section shall be made publicly available as
  provided by rules adopted under this section.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 55.  (a)  Section 39.0823, Education Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  If the commissioner, based on the indicators adopted
  under Section 39.082 or other relevant information, projects a
  [review process under Section 39.0822 indicates a projected]
  deficit for a school district or open-enrollment charter school
  general fund within the following three school years, the agency
  [district] shall provide the district or school [agency] interim
  financial reports, including projected revenues and expenditures
  [supplemented by staff and student count data, as needed], to
  evaluate the [district's] current budget status of the district or
  school.
         (d)  The agency may require a district or open-enrollment
  charter school to submit additional information needed to produce a
  financial report under Subsection (a).  If a district or school
  fails to provide information requested under this subsection or if
  the commissioner determines that the information submitted by a
  district or school is unreliable, the commissioner may order the
  district or school to acquire professional services as provided by
  Section 39.109.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 56.  (a)  Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 39.0824 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0824.  CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. (a)  A school
  district or open-enrollment charter school assigned a failing
  rating under Section 39.082 shall submit to the commissioner a
  corrective action plan to address the financial weaknesses of the
  district or school.  A corrective action plan must identify the
  specific areas of financial weaknesses, such as financial
  weaknesses in transportation, curriculum, or teacher development,
  and include strategies for improvement.
         (b)  The commissioner may impose appropriate sanctions under
  Subchapter E against a district or school failing to submit or
  implement a corrective action plan required under Subsection (a).
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 57.  (a)  Section 39.083(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The annual financial management report must include:
               (1)  a description of the district's financial
  management performance based on a comparison, provided by the
  agency, of the district's performance on the indicators adopted
  under Section 39.082(b) to:
                     (A)  state-established standards; and
                     (B)  the district's previous performance on the
  indicators; and
               (2)  [a description of the data submitted using the
  electronic-based program developed under Section 39.0822; and
               [(3)]  any descriptive information required by the
  commissioner.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 58.  (a) Section 39.201(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Not later than August 8 of each year, the commissioner
  shall award distinction designations for outstanding performance
  as provided by [under] this subchapter. A distinction designation
  awarded to a district or campus under this subchapter shall be
  referenced directly in connection with the performance rating
  assigned to the district or campus and made publicly available
  together with the performance ratings as provided by rules adopted
  under Section 39.054(a).
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 59.  (a)  Section 39.202, Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.202.  ACADEMIC [EXCELLENCE] DISTINCTION DESIGNATION
  FOR DISTRICTS AND CAMPUSES. The commissioner by rule shall
  establish [a recognized and exemplary rating for awarding districts
  and campuses] an academic distinction designation for districts and
  campuses for outstanding performance in attainment of
  postsecondary readiness [under this subchapter]. The [In
  establishing the recognized and exemplary ratings, the]
  commissioner shall adopt criteria for the designation under this
  section [ratings], including:
               (1)  percentages of students who:
                     (A)  performed satisfactorily, as determined
  under the college readiness performance standard under Section
  39.0241, on assessment instruments required under Section
  39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l) or on end-of-course assessment
  instruments adopted under Section 39.023(c-2), aggregated across
  grade levels by subject area; or
                     (B)  met the standard for annual improvement, as
  determined by the agency under Section 39.034, on assessment
  instruments required under Section 39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l) or
  on end-of-course assessment instruments adopted under Section
  39.023(c-2), aggregated across grade levels by subject area, for
  students who did not perform satisfactorily as described by
  Paragraph (A);
               (2)  percentages of:
                     (A)  students who earned a nationally or
  internationally recognized business or industry certification or
  license;
                     (B)  students who completed a coherent sequence of
  career and technical courses;
                     (C)  students who completed a dual credit course
  or an articulated postsecondary course provided for local credit;
                     (D)  students who achieved applicable College
  Readiness Benchmarks or the equivalent on the Preliminary
  Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), the Scholastic Assessment Test
  (SAT), the American College Test (ACT), or the ACT-Plan assessment
  program; and
                     (E)  students who received a score on either an
  advanced placement test or an international baccalaureate
  examination to be awarded college credit; and
               (3) [(2)]  other factors for determining sufficient
  student attainment of postsecondary readiness.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 60.  (a)  Section 39.203, Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.203.  CAMPUS DISTINCTION DESIGNATIONS. (a) The
  commissioner shall award a campus a distinction designation for
  outstanding performance in improvement in student achievement if
  the campus is ranked in the top 25 percent of campuses in the state
  in annual improvement in student achievement as determined under
  Section 39.034.
         (b)  In addition to the distinction designation described by
  Subsection (a), the commissioner shall award a campus a distinction
  designation for outstanding performance in closing student
  achievement differentials if the campus demonstrates an ability to
  significantly diminish or eliminate performance differentials
  between student subpopulations and is ranked in the top 25 percent
  of campuses in this state under the performance criteria described
  by this subsection.  The commissioner shall adopt rules related to
  the distinction designation under this subsection to ensure that a
  campus does not artificially diminish or eliminate performance
  differentials through inhibiting the achievement of the highest
  achieving student subpopulation.
         (c)  In addition to the distinction designations described
  by Subsections (a) and (b), a campus that satisfies the criteria
  developed under Section 39.204 shall be awarded a distinction
  designation by the commissioner for outstanding performance in [for
  the following programs or the following specific categories of
  performance:
               [(1)]  academic achievement in English language arts,
  mathematics, science, or social studies[;
               [(2)  fine arts;
               [(3)  physical education;
               [(4)  21st Century Workforce Development program; and
               [(5)  second language acquisition program].
         (d)  In addition to the distinction designations otherwise
  described by this section, the commissioner may award a distinction
  designation for outstanding performance in advanced middle or
  junior high school student achievement to a campus with a
  significant number of students below grade nine who perform
  satisfactorily on an end-of-course assessment instrument
  administered under Section 39.023(c).
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 61.  (a) Section 39.235(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Before awarding a grant under this section, the
  commissioner may require a campus or school district to:
               (1)  obtain local matching funds; or
               (2)  meet other conditions, including developing a
  personal graduation plan under Section 28.0212 for each student
  enrolled at the campus or in a district middle or [,] junior high [,
  or high] school.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 62.  (a)  Section 39.301(c), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Indicators for reporting purposes must include:
               (1)  the percentage of graduating students who meet the
  course requirements established by State Board of Education rule
  for:
                     (A)  the foundation [minimum] high school
  program;
                     (B)  [,] the distinguished level of achievement
  under the foundation [recommended] high school program;[,] and
                     (C)  each endorsement described by Section 28.025
  (c-1) [the advanced high school program];
               (2)  the results of the SAT, ACT, articulated
  postsecondary degree programs described by Section 61.852, and
  certified workforce training programs described by Chapter 311,
  Labor Code;
               (3)  for students who have failed to perform
  satisfactorily, under each performance standard under Section
  39.0241, on an assessment instrument required under Section
  39.023(a) or (c), the performance of those students on subsequent
  assessment instruments required under those sections, aggregated
  by grade level and subject area;
               (4)  [for each campus, the number of students,
  disaggregated by major student subpopulations, that agree under
  Section 28.025(b) to take courses under the minimum high school
  program;
               [(5)]  the percentage of students, aggregated by grade
  level, provided accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211(c),
  the results of assessment instruments administered under that
  section, the percentage of students promoted through the grade
  placement committee process under Section 28.0211, the subject of
  the assessment instrument on which each student failed to perform
  satisfactorily under each performance standard under Section
  39.0241, and the performance of those students in the school year
  following that promotion on the assessment instruments required
  under Section 39.023;
               (5) [(6)]  the percentage of students of limited
  English proficiency exempted from the administration of an
  assessment instrument under Sections 39.027(a)(1) and (2);
               (6) [(7)]  the percentage of students in a special
  education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, assessed through
  assessment instruments developed or adopted under Section
  39.023(b);
               (7) [(8)]  the percentage of students who satisfy the
  college readiness measure;
               (8) [(9)]  the measure of progress toward dual language
  proficiency under Section 39.034(b), for students of limited
  English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052;
               (9) [(10)]  the percentage of students who are not
  educationally disadvantaged;
               (10) [(11)]  the percentage of students who enroll and
  begin instruction at an institution of higher education in the
  school year following high school graduation; [and]
               (11) [(12)]  the percentage of students who
  successfully complete the first year of instruction at an
  institution of higher education without needing a developmental
  education course; and
               (12)  for each campus, the number of students,
  disaggregated by major student subpopulations, that graduate:
                     (A)  under the foundation high school program;
                     (B)  under the distinguished level of achievement
  under the foundation high school program; and
                     (C)  with each category of endorsement under
  Section 28.025(c-1).
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 63.  (a)  Section 39.305(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The report card shall include the following
  information:
               (1)  where applicable, the student achievement
  indicators described by Section 39.053(c) and the reporting
  indicators described by Sections 39.301(c)(1) through (4) [(5)];
               (2)  average class size by grade level and subject;
               (3)  the administrative and instructional costs per
  student, computed in a manner consistent with Section 44.0071; and
               (4)  the district's instructional expenditures ratio
  and instructional employees ratio computed under Section 44.0071,
  and the statewide average of those ratios, as determined by the
  commissioner.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 64.  (a) Section 39.332(b), Education Code, is
  amended by amending Subdivision (23) and adding Subdivision (24) to
  read as follows:
               (23)  The report must contain an evaluation of the
  availability of categories of endorsements under Section
  28.025(c-1), including the following information for each school
  district:
                     (A)  the categories of endorsements under Section
  28.025(c-1) for which the district offers all courses for
  curriculum requirements as determined by board rule; and
                     (B)  the district's economic, geographic, and
  demographic information, as determined by the commissioner.
               (24)  The report must contain any additional
  information considered important by the commissioner or the State
  Board of Education.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 65.  (a)  Subchapter L, Chapter 39, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 39.363 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.363.  NOTICE ON AGENCY WEBSITE. Not later than
  August 31 of each year, the agency shall make the following
  information available to the public on the agency's Internet
  website:
               (1)  the letter performance rating assigned to each
  school district and campus under Section 39.054 and each
  distinction designation awarded to a school district or campus
  under Subchapter G, Chapter 39;
               (2)  the letter performance rating assigned to a school
  district and each campus in the district by the district under
  Section 39.0545; and
               (3)  the letter financial accountability rating
  assigned to each school district and open-enrollment charter school
  under Section 39.082.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 66.  (a)  Section 51.3062, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (q-3) to read as follows:
         (q-3)  A student who successfully completes a college
  preparatory course under Section 28.014 is exempt from the
  requirements of this section with respect to the content area of the
  course. The commissioner of higher education by rule shall
  establish the period for which an exemption under this subsection
  is valid.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         SECTION 67.  (a)  Section 51.803, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsection (m)
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Subsection (a-1), each general academic
  teaching institution shall admit an applicant for admission to the
  institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant graduated
  with a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's
  high school graduating class in one of the two school years
  preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for
  admission and:
               (1)  the applicant graduated from a public or private
  high school in this state accredited by a generally recognized
  accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the
  United States Department of Defense;
               (2)  the applicant:
                     (A)  successfully completed:
                           (i)  at a public high school, the curriculum
  requirements established under Section 28.025 for the
  distinguished level of achievement under the foundation 
  [recommended or advanced] high school program; or
                           (ii)  at a high school to which Section
  28.025 does not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content
  and rigor to the distinguished level of achievement under the
  foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program; or
                     (B)  satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks
  on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant or earned on the
  SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the
  equivalent; and
               (3)  if the applicant graduated from a high school
  operated by the United States Department of Defense, the applicant
  is a Texas resident under Section 54.052 or is entitled to pay
  tuition fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under Section
  54.241(d) [54.058(d)] for the term or semester to which admitted.
         (b)  An applicant who does not satisfy the curriculum
  requirements prescribed by Subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) or (ii) is
  considered to have satisfied those requirements if the student
  completed the portion of the distinguished level of achievement
  under the foundation high school program [recommended or advanced]
  curriculum or of the curriculum equivalent in content and rigor, as
  applicable, that was available to the student but was unable to
  complete the remainder of the curriculum solely because courses
  necessary to complete the remainder were unavailable to the student
  at the appropriate times in the student's high school career as a
  result of course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or
  another cause not within the student's control.
         (d)  For purposes of Subsection (c)(2), a student's official
  transcript or diploma must, not later than the end of the student's
  junior year, indicate:
               (1)  whether the student has satisfied or is on
  schedule to satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) or
  (ii), as applicable; or
               (2)  if Subsection (b) applies to the student, whether
  the student has completed the portion of the distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation high school program [recommended
  or advanced] curriculum or of the curriculum equivalent in content
  and rigor, as applicable, that was available to the student.
         (m)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
  commissioner of education shall jointly adopt rules to establish
  eligibility requirements for admission under this section as to
  curriculum requirements for high school graduation under
  Subsection (a)(2)(A) for students participating under the
  transition plan described by Section 28.025(h) regarding high
  school curriculum completion. This subsection expires September 1,
  2020.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 68.  (a) Section 51.805, Education Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A graduating student who does not qualify for admission
  under Section 51.803 or 51.804 may apply to any general academic
  teaching institution if the student:
               (1)  successfully completed [satisfies the
  requirements of]:
                     (A)  at a public high school, the curriculum
  requirements established under Section 28.025 for the foundation
  high school program; or
                     (B)  at a high school to which Section 28.025 does
  not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to
  the foundation high school program [(1)     Section 51.803(a)(2)(A)
  or 51.803(b), as applicable to the student, or Section
  51.803(a)(2)(B)]; or [and]
               (2)  satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on
  the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant or earned on the SAT
  assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent
  [Sections 51.803(c)(2) and 51.803(d)].
         (g)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
  commissioner of education shall jointly adopt rules to establish
  eligibility requirements for admission under this section as to
  curriculum requirements for high school graduation under
  Subsection (a) for students participating under the transition plan
  described by Section 28.025(h) regarding high school curriculum
  completion. This subsection expires September 1, 2020.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 69.  (a) Section 51.807(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, after
  consulting with the Texas Education Agency, by rule shall establish
  standards for determining for purposes of this subchapter:
               (1)  whether a private high school is accredited by a
  generally recognized accrediting organization; and
               (2)  whether a person completed a high school
  curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to the
  curriculum requirements established under Section 28.025 for the
  foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program or the
  distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
  program.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 70.  (a) Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code,
  is amended by adding Section 56.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.009.  ELIGIBILITY BASED ON GRADUATION UNDER CERTAIN
  HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. To the extent that a person's eligibility to
  participate in any program under this chapter, including
  Subchapters K, Q, and R, is contingent on the person graduating
  under the recommended or advanced high school program, as those
  programs existed before the adoption of __.B. No. _____, 83rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board and the commissioner of education shall jointly
  adopt rules to modify, clarify, or otherwise establish for affected
  programs appropriate eligibility requirements regarding high
  school curriculum completion.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 71.  (a)  Section 56.3041, Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.3041.  INITIAL ELIGIBILITY OF PERSON GRADUATING FROM
  HIGH SCHOOL ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 2013, AND ENROLLING IN A GENERAL
  ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTION.  (a)  Notwithstanding Section
  56.304(a), to be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
  graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling
  in a general academic teaching institution must:
               (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by
  coordinating board rules;
               (2)  meet the academic requirements prescribed by
  Paragraph (A), (B), or (C) as follows:
                     (A)  be a graduate of a public or accredited
  private high school in this state who completed the foundation
  [recommended] high school program established under Section 28.025
  or its equivalent and have accomplished any two or more of the
  following:
                           (i)  [graduation under the advanced high
  school program established under Section 28.025 or its equivalent,]
  successful completion of the course requirements of the
  international baccalaureate diploma program[,] or earning of the
  equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in
  high school through courses described in Sections 28.009(a)(1),
  (2), and (3);
                           (ii)  satisfaction of the Texas Success
  Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
  coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment
  instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section
  51.3062(c) [or (e)] or qualification for an exemption as described
  by Section 51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1);
                           (iii)  graduation in the top one-third of
  the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high
  school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
  scale or the equivalent; or
                           (iv)  completion for high school credit of
  at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful
  completion of an Algebra II course[, as permitted by Section
  28.025(b-3),] or at least one advanced career and technical
  course[, as permitted by Section 28.025(b-2)];
                     (B)  have received an associate degree from a
  public or private institution of higher education; or
                     (C)  if sufficient money is available, meet the
  eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A);
               (3)  meet financial need requirements established by
  the coordinating board;
               (4)  be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
  certificate program at the general academic teaching institution;
               (5)  except as provided under rules adopted under
  Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
                     (A)  an entering undergraduate student for at
  least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
  coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the
  calendar month in which the person graduated from high school;
                     (B)  an entering undergraduate student who
  entered military service not later than the first anniversary of
  the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for
  at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
  coordinating board, at the general academic teaching institution
  not later than 12 months after being honorably discharged from
  military service; or
                     (C)  a continuing undergraduate student for at
  least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
  coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the
  calendar month in which the person received an associate degree
  from a public or private institution of higher education;
               (6)  have applied for any available financial aid or
  assistance; and
               (7)  comply with any additional nonacademic
  requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this
  subchapter.
         (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
  commissioner of education shall jointly adopt rules to establish
  eligibility requirements for a grant under this section as to
  curriculum requirements for high school graduation under
  Subsection (a)(2)(A) for students participating under the
  transition plan described by Section 28.025(h) regarding high
  school curriculum completion. This subsection expires September 1,
  2020.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 72.  (a) Section 61.0517(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In this section, "applied STEM course" means an applied
  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics course offered as
  part of a school district's career and technology education or
  technology applications curriculum and approved, as provided by
  Section 28.027, by the State Board of Education for purposes of
  satisfying the mathematics and science curriculum requirements for
  the foundation [recommended] high school program [imposed] under
  Section 28.025 [28.025(b-1)(1)(A)].
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 73.  (a) Section 61.792(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  To qualify for a scholarship under this section, a
  student must:
               (1)  have graduated with a grade point average in the
  top 20 percent of the student's high school graduating class;
               (2)  have graduated from high school with a grade point
  average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent in
  mathematics and science courses offered under the foundation
  [recommended or advanced] high school program under Section 28.025
  [28.025(a)]; and
               (3)  maintain an overall grade point average of at
  least 3.0 on a four-point scale at the general academic teaching
  institution or the private or independent institution of higher
  education in which the student is enrolled.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 74.  (a)  Section 61.852(a), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A tech-prep program is a program of study that:
               (1)  combines at least two years of secondary education
  with at least two years of postsecondary education in a
  nonduplicative, sequential course of study based on the foundation
  [recommended] high school program adopted by the State Board of
  Education under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)];
               (2)  integrates academic instruction and vocational
  and technical instruction;
               (3)  uses work-based and worksite learning where
  available and appropriate;
               (4)  provides technical preparation in a career field
  such as engineering technology, applied science, a mechanical,
  industrial, or practical art or trade, agriculture, health
  occupations, business, or applied economics;
               (5)  builds student competence in mathematics,
  science, reading, writing, communications, economics, and
  workplace skills through applied, contextual academics and
  integrated instruction in a coherent sequence of courses;
               (6)  leads to an associate degree, two-year
  postsecondary certificate, or postsecondary two-year
  apprenticeship with provisions, to the extent applicable, for
  students to continue toward completion of a baccalaureate degree;
  and
               (7)  leads to placement in appropriate employment or to
  further education.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 75.  (a)  Section 61.855(d), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  A tech-prep program must:
               (1)  be implemented under an articulation agreement
  between the participants in the consortium;
               (2)  consist of two to four years of secondary school
  preceding graduation and:
                     (A)  two or more years of higher education; or
                     (B)  two or more years of apprenticeship following
  secondary instruction;
               (3)  have a common core of required proficiency based
  on the foundation [recommended] high school program adopted by the
  State Board of Education under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)], with
  proficiencies in mathematics, science, reading, writing,
  communications, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's
  degree or postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;
               (4)  include the development of tech-prep program
  curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the
  consortium that:
                     (A)  meets academic standards developed by the
  state;
                     (B)  links secondary schools and two-year
  postsecondary institutions, and, if practicable, four-year
  institutions of higher education through nonduplicative sequences
  of courses in career fields, including the investigation of
  opportunities for tech-prep students to enroll concurrently in
  secondary and postsecondary course work;
                     (C)  uses, if appropriate and available,
  work-based or worksite learning in conjunction with business and
  all aspects of an industry; and
                     (D)  uses educational technology and distance
  learning, as appropriate, to involve each consortium participant
  more fully in the development and operation of programs;
               (5)  include in-service training for teachers that:
                     (A)  is designed to train vocational and technical
  teachers to effectively implement tech-prep programs;
                     (B)  provides for joint training for teachers in
  the tech-prep consortium;
                     (C)  is designed to ensure that teachers and
  administrators stay current with the needs, expectations, and
  methods of business and of all aspects of an industry;
                     (D)  focuses on training postsecondary education
  faculty in the use of contextual and applied curricula and
  instruction; and
                     (E)  provides training in the use and application
  of technology;
               (6)  include training programs for counselors designed
  to enable counselors to more effectively:
                     (A)  provide information to students regarding
  tech-prep programs;
                     (B)  support student progress in completing
  tech-prep programs;
                     (C)  provide information on related employment
  opportunities;
                     (D)  ensure that tech-prep students are placed in
  appropriate employment; and
                     (E)  stay current with the needs, expectations,
  and methods of business and of all aspects of an industry;
               (7)  provide equal access to the full range of
  tech-prep programs for individuals who are members of special
  populations, including by the development of tech-prep program
  services appropriate to the needs of special populations; and
               (8)  provide for preparatory services that assist
  participants in tech-prep programs.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 76.  (a)  Section 61.861(c), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A course developed for purposes of this section must:
               (1)  provide content that enables a student to develop
  the relevant and critical skills needed to be prepared for
  employment or additional training in a high-demand occupation;
               (2)  incorporate college and career readiness skills as
  part of the curriculum;
               (3)  be offered for dual credit; and
               (4)  satisfy a mathematics or science requirement under
  the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program as
  determined under Section 28.025.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 77.  (a) Section 61.864, Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.864.  REVIEW OF COURSES. Courses for which a grant
  is awarded under this subchapter shall be reviewed by the
  commissioner of higher education and the commissioner of education,
  in consultation with the comptroller and the Texas Workforce
  Commission, once every four years to determine whether the course:
               (1)  is being used by public educational institutions
  in this state;
               (2)  prepares high school students with the skills
  necessary for employment in the high-demand occupation and further
  postsecondary study; and
               (3)  satisfies a mathematics or science requirement for
  the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program as
  determined under Section 28.025.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 78.  (a)  Section 78.10(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science is a
  division of The University of Texas at Brownsville and is under the
  management and control of the board.  The academy serves the
  following purposes:
               (1)  to provide academically gifted and highly
  motivated junior and senior high school students with a challenging
  university-level curriculum that:
                     (A)  allows students to complete high school
  graduation requirements[, including requirements adopted under
  Section 28.025] for the foundation [advanced] high school program
  and the distinguished level of achievement under the foundation
  high school program and earn appropriate endorsements as provided
  by Section 28.025, while attending for academic credit a public
  institution of higher education;
                     (B)  fosters students' knowledge of real-world
  mathematics and science issues and applications and teaches
  students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to
  those issues and problems;
                     (C)  includes the study of English, foreign
  languages, social studies, mathematics, science, and technology;
  and
                     (D)  offers students learning opportunities
  related to mathematics and science through in-depth research and
  field-based studies;
               (2)  to provide students with an awareness of
  mathematics and science careers and professional development
  opportunities through seminars, workshops, collaboration with
  postsecondary and university students including opportunities for
  summer studies, internships in foreign countries, and similar
  methods; and
               (3)  to provide students with social development
  activities that enrich the academic curriculum and student life,
  including, as determined appropriate by the academy, University
  Interscholastic League activities and other extracurricular
  activities.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 79.  (a)  Section 87.505(b), Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The Texas Academy of International Studies is a division
  of Texas A&M International University and is under the management
  and control of the board. The academy serves the following
  purposes:
               (1)  to provide academically gifted and highly
  motivated junior and senior high school students with a challenging
  university-level curriculum that:
                     (A)  allows students to complete high school
  graduation requirements[, including requirements adopted under
  Section 28.025] for the foundation [advanced] high school program
  and the distinguished level of achievement under the foundation
  high school program and earn appropriate endorsements as provided
  by Section 28.025, while attending for academic credit a public
  institution of higher education;
                     (B)  fosters students' knowledge of real-world
  international issues and problems and teaches students to apply
  critical thinking and problem-solving skills to those issues and
  problems;
                     (C)  includes the study of English, foreign
  languages, social studies, anthropology, and sociology;
                     (D)  is presented through an interdisciplinary
  approach that introduces and develops issues, especially issues
  related to international concerns, throughout the curriculum; and
                     (E)  offers students learning opportunities
  related to international issues through in-depth research and
  field-based studies;
               (2)  to provide students with an awareness of
  international career and professional development opportunities
  through seminars, workshops, collaboration with postsecondary
  students from other countries, summer academic international
  studies internships in foreign countries, and similar methods; and
               (3)  to provide students with social development
  activities that enrich the academic curriculum and student life,
  including, as determined appropriate by the academy, University
  Interscholastic League activities and other extracurricular
  activities generally offered by public high schools.
         (b)  This section applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 80.  (a)  Effective September 1, 2013, the following
  provisions of the Education Code are repealed:
               (1)  Sections 29.190(b) and (e); and
               (2)  Section 39.025(a-3).
         (b)  Effective September 1, 2014, the following provisions
  of the Education Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 28.002(q);
               (2)  Sections 28.0212(e) and (g);
               (3)  Sections 28.025(b-6), (b-8), and (g);
               (4)  Section 39.0822; and
               (5)  Sections 39.0823(b) and (c).
         SECTION 81.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
  this section, Section 39.025, Education Code, as amended by
  Sections 39 and 40 of this Act, as related to reducing end-of-course
  testing requirements, applies only to students who have entered or
  will enter the ninth grade during the 2011-2012 school year or a
  later school year.
         (b)  Students who have entered the ninth grade during or
  after the 2011-2012 school year and before the 2014-2015 school
  year and who choose to complete the curriculum requirements under
  the minimum high school program may be administered only those
  end-of-course assessment instruments that would have been
  administered to those students under Section 39.025, Education
  Code, as amended by Section 39 of this Act, and Section 39.025,
  Education Code, as amended by Section 39 of this Act, is continued
  in effect for purposes of satisfying those end-of-course testing
  requirements.
         SECTION 82.  Not later than October 1, 2013, the
  commissioner of education shall adopt rules to administer Sections
  39.025(a-1) and (a-2), Education Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 83.  Section 39.027(a-2), Education Code, as added
  by this Act, applies to a student regardless of the date on which
  the student initially enrolled in a school in the United States.
         SECTION 84.  If, on September 1, 2013, a person is serving on
  a committee or panel that advises the commissioner of education or
  the Texas Education Agency who would not be eligible for
  appointment under Section 39.038, Education Code, as added by this
  Act, the person's position on the committee or panel becomes vacant
  and shall be filled in accordance with applicable law.
         SECTION 85.  (a) The Texas Education Agency, in
  collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall, through an external
  evaluator at a center for education research authorized by Section
  1.005, Education Code, evaluate the implementation of the changes
  made by this Act to the curriculum requirements for high school
  graduation. The evaluation must include an estimation of this
  Act's effect on high school graduation rates, college readiness,
  college admissions, college completion, obtainment of workforce
  certificates, employment rates, and earnings.
         (b)  The commissioner of education shall submit an initial
  report regarding the review to the governor, lieutenant governor,
  and members of the legislature not later than December 1, 2015. The
  commissioner of education shall submit a final report regarding
  the review to the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the
  legislature not later than December 1, 2017.
         SECTION 86.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, 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, 2013.
feedback