Bill Text: TX HB407 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to school district selection of an alternative assessment method in place of state-administered assessment instruments.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-16 - Referred to Public Education [HB407 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB407-Introduced.html

---

84R2121 CAE-D
By: González H.B. No. 407

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school district selection of an alternative assessment
method in place of state-administered assessment instruments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.026, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 39.026. LOCAL OPTION. (a) This subsection applies
only to administration of assessment instruments to students at the
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grade level.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the board of
trustees of a school district, in place of [In addition to] the
assessment instruments required under Section 39.023 that are
adopted by the agency and administered by the State Board of
Education, [a school district] may provide for performance-based or
portfolio assessment to evaluate student learning [adopt and
administer criterion-referenced or norm-referenced assessment
instruments, or both,] at any grade level.
(b) The board of trustees must submit to the commissioner a
detailed plan designed to support improved student instruction and
learning and provide evidence of the method for accurate assessment
of the quality of learning to be used on district campuses. The
plan must include a clear description of each assessed curricular
goal included in the district's learning standards.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for the
administration of Subsection (a), including rules for using
performance-based or portfolio assessment.
(d) If there is a conflict between Subsection (a) and
federal law or regulations as a result of the use of
performance-based or portfolio assessment, the agency shall seek a
waiver from the application of conflicting federal law or
regulations.
(e) A performance-based or portfolio [A norm-referenced]
assessment method [instrument adopted] under this section must be
approved by the commissioner [economical, nationally recognized,
and state-approved].
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
school year.
SECTION 3. 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, 2015.