Bill Text: TX HB2734 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the limitation on administration and use of certain assessment instruments in public schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-17 - Referred to Public Education [HB2734 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB2734-Introduced.html

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87R9681 GCB-D
By: Tinderholt H.B. No. 2734

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the limitation on administration and use of certain
assessment instruments in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
until September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
essential knowledge and skills in reading, [writing,] mathematics,
[social studies,] and science. Except as provided by Subsection
(a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection
(b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:
(1) mathematics, annually in grades three through
eight;
(2) reading, annually in grades three through eight;
(3) [writing, including spelling and grammar, in
grades four and seven;
[(4) social studies, in grade eight;
[(5)] science, in grades five and eight; and
(4) [(6)] any other subject and grade required by
federal law.
SECTION 2. Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
essential knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics, [social
studies,] and science. Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), all
students, other than students assessed under Subsection (b) or (l)
or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:
(1) mathematics, annually in grades three through
eight;
(2) reading, annually in grades three through eight;
(3) [social studies, in grade eight;
[(4)] science, in grades five and eight; and
(4) [(5)] any other subject and grade required by
federal law.
SECTION 3. Section 39.023(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, biology, and
[English I,] English II[, and United States history]. The Algebra I
end-of-course assessment instrument must be administered with the
aid of technology, but may include one or more parts that prohibit
the use of technology. The [English I and] English II end-of-course
assessment instrument [instruments] must [each] assess essential
knowledge and skills in both reading and writing and must provide a
single score. A school district shall comply with State Board of
Education rules regarding administration of the assessment
instruments listed in this subsection. 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. An end-of-course assessment instrument may be
administered in multiple parts over more than one day. The State
Board of Education shall adopt a schedule for the administration of
end-of-course assessment instruments that complies with the
requirements of Subsection (c-3).
SECTION 4. Section 39.025(a-1), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a-1) A student enrolled in a college preparatory
mathematics or English language arts 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 51.334 on an assessment instrument designated
by the coordinating board under that section administered at the
end of the college preparatory mathematics or English language arts
course satisfies the requirements concerning and is exempt from the
administration of the Algebra I or the [English I and] English II
end-of-course assessment instrument [instruments], as applicable,
as prescribed by Section 39.023(c), even if the student did not
perform satisfactorily on a previous administration of the
applicable end-of-course assessment instrument. A student who
fails to perform satisfactorily on the assessment instrument
designated by the coordinating board under Section 51.334
administered as provided by this subsection may retake that
assessment instrument for purposes of this subsection or may take
the appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument.
SECTION 5. Section 39.203(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(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
academic achievement in English language arts, mathematics, or
science[, or social studies].
SECTION 6. Section 39.0238, Education Code, is repealed.
SECTION 7. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
school year.
SECTION 8. 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, 2021.