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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain state-adopted or state-developed assessment |
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instruments for public school students and to a certain indicator |
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of student achievement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-12), (a-13), (a-14), and (a-15) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-12) Before an assessment instrument adopted or developed |
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under Subsection (a) may be administered under that subsection, the |
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assessment instrument must, on the basis of empirical evidence, be |
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determined to be valid and reliable by an entity that is independent |
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of the agency and of any other entity that developed the assessment |
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instrument. |
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(a-13) The agency shall ensure that an assessment |
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instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) is designed to |
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primarily assess the essential knowledge and skills identified by |
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the State Board of Education under Section 28.002 of the subject and |
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for the grade level for which the assessment instrument is |
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administered. Only to the extent necessary or helpful for |
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diagnostic or reporting purposes, the assessment instrument may |
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also assess supporting knowledge or skills that are introduced or |
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referenced in the subject and for the grade level for which the |
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assessment instrument is administered but that are identified as |
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essential knowledge or skills primarily of a different subject or |
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for a different grade level. |
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(a-14) An assessment instrument adopted or developed under |
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Subsection (a) must be designed so that: |
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(1) if administered to students in grades three |
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through five, 85 percent of students will be able to complete the |
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assessment instrument within 120 minutes; and |
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(2) if administered to students in grades six through |
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eight, 85 percent of students will be able to complete the |
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assessment instrument within 180 minutes. |
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(a-15) The amount of time allowed for administration of an |
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assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) may |
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not exceed eight hours, and the administration may occur on only one |
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day. |
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SECTION 2. Section 39.053, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-3) to read as follows: |
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(c-3) The indicator of student achievement under Subsection |
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(c)(1) may not include student performance as to supporting |
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knowledge or skills as described by Section 39.023(a-13). |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |