H.B. No. 4545
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the assessment of public school students, the
  establishment of a strong foundations grant program, and providing
  accelerated instruction for students who fail to achieve
  satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 28.0211, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0211.  ACCELERATED LEARNING COMMITTEE [SATISFACTORY
  PERFORMANCE ON ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED]; ACCELERATED
  INSTRUCTION; MODIFIED TEACHER ASSIGNMENT.
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.0211, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), (c), (f), (i), (k),
  and (n) and adding Subsections (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (f-1), (f-2),
  (f-3), (f-4), (f-5), and (n-1) to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district shall establish an accelerated
  learning committee described by Subsection (c) for each student who
  does not perform satisfactorily on:
               (1)  the third grade mathematics or reading assessment
  instrument under Section 39.023;
               (2)  [Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (e), a
  student may not be promoted to:
               [(1)  the sixth grade program to which the student
  would otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
  satisfactorily on] the fifth grade mathematics or [and] reading
  assessment instrument [instruments] under Section 39.023; or
               (3) [(2)  the ninth grade program to which the student
  would otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
  satisfactorily on] the eighth grade mathematics or [and] reading
  assessment instrument [instruments] under Section 39.023.
         (a-1)  Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
  an assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(a) in
  the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grade, the
  school district in which the student attends school shall provide
  to the student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject
  area during the subsequent summer or school year and either:
               (1)  allow the student to be assigned a classroom
  teacher who is certified as a master, exemplary, or recognized
  teacher under Section 21.3521 for the subsequent school year in the
  applicable subject area; or
               (2)  provide the student supplemental instruction
  under Subsection (a-4).
         (a-2)  Accelerated instruction provided during the following
  school year under Subsection (a-1) may require participation of the
  student before or after normal school hours [and may include
  participation at times of the year outside normal school
  operations].
         (a-3)  In providing accelerated instruction under Subsection
  (a-1), a district may not remove a student, except under
  circumstances for which a student enrolled in the same grade level
  who is not receiving accelerated instruction would be removed,
  from:
               (1)  instruction in the foundation curriculum and
  enrichment curriculum adopted under Section 28.002 for the grade
  level in which the student is enrolled; or
               (2)  recess or other physical activity that is
  available to other students enrolled in the same grade level.
         (a-4)  If a district receives funding under Section 29.0881,
  the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations
  Act, 2021 (Div. M, Pub. L. No. 116-260), or the American Rescue Plan
  Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2), then supplemental instruction
  provided by a school district under Subsection (a-1)(2) must:
               (1)  include targeted instruction in the essential
  knowledge and skills for the applicable grade levels and subject
  area;
               (2)  be provided in addition to instruction normally
  provided to students in the grade level in which the student is
  enrolled;
               (3)  be provided for no less than 30 total hours during
  the subsequent summer or school year and, unless the instruction is
  provided fully during summer, include instruction no less than once
  per week during the school year;
               (4)  be designed to assist the student in achieving
  satisfactory performance in the applicable grade level and subject
  area;
               (5)  include effective instructional materials
  designed for supplemental instruction;
               (6)  be provided to a student individually or in a group
  of no more than three students, unless the parent or guardian of
  each student in the group authorizes a larger group;
               (7)  be provided by a person with training in the
  applicable instructional materials for the supplemental
  instruction and under the oversight of the school district; and
               (8)  to the extent possible, be provided by one person
  for the entirety of the student's supplemental instruction period.
         (a-5)  Each school district shall establish a process
  allowing for the parent or guardian of a student who fails to
  perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under
  Subsection (a) to make a request for district consideration that
  the student be assigned to a particular classroom teacher in the
  applicable subject area for the subsequent school year, if more
  than one classroom teacher is available.
         [(a-2)  A student who fails to perform satisfactorily on an
  assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) and who is
  promoted to the next grade level must complete accelerated
  instruction required under Subsection (a-1) before placement in the
  next grade level. A student who fails to complete required
  accelerated instruction may not be promoted.]
         (a-6) [(a-3)]  The commissioner shall provide guidelines to
  school districts on research-based best practices and effective
  strategies that a district may use in developing an accelerated
  instruction program and shall provide resources to districts to
  assist in the provision of an accelerated instruction program.
         (c)  [Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
  an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a), the school
  district in which the student attends school shall provide to the
  student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject area,
  including reading instruction for a student who fails to perform
  satisfactorily on a reading assessment instrument.] After a
  student fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument
  specified under Subsection (a), an accelerated learning [a second
  time, a grade placement] committee shall be established [to
  prescribe the accelerated instruction the district shall provide to
  the student before the student is administered the assessment
  instrument the third time]. The accelerated learning [grade
  placement] committee shall be composed of the principal or the
  principal's designee, the student's parent or guardian, and the
  teacher of the subject of an assessment instrument on which the
  student failed to perform satisfactorily. The district shall
  notify the parent or guardian of the time and place for convening
  the accelerated learning [grade placement] committee and the
  purpose of the committee. [An accelerated instruction group
  administered by a school district under this section may not have a
  ratio of more than 10 students for each teacher.]
         (f)  An accelerated learning [A school district shall
  provide to a student who, after three attempts, has failed to
  perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under
  Subsection (a) accelerated instruction during the next school year
  as prescribed by an educational plan developed for the student by
  the student's grade placement] committee described by [established
  under] Subsection (c) shall, not later than the start of the
  subsequent school year, develop an[. The district shall provide
  that accelerated instruction regardless of whether the student has
  been promoted or retained. The] educational plan for the student
  that provides the necessary accelerated instruction [must be
  designed] to enable the student to perform at the appropriate grade
  level by the conclusion of the school year.
         (f-1)  The educational plan under Subsection (f) must be
  documented in writing, and a copy must be provided to the student's
  parent or guardian.
         (f-2)  During the school year, the student shall be monitored
  to ensure that the student is progressing in accordance with the
  plan developed under Subsection (f). The district shall administer
  to the student the assessment instrument for the grade level in
  which the student is placed at the time the district regularly
  administers the assessment instruments for that school year.
         (f-3)  The board of trustees of each school district shall
  adopt a policy consistent with the grievance procedure adopted
  under Section 26.011 to allow a parent to contest the content or
  implementation of an educational plan developed under Subsection
  (f).
         (f-4)  If a student who fails to perform satisfactorily on an
  assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) fails in the
  subsequent school year to perform satisfactorily on an assessment
  instrument in the same subject, the superintendent of the district,
  or the superintendent's designee, shall meet with the student's
  accelerated learning committee to:
               (1)  identify the reason the student did not perform
  satisfactorily; and
               (2)  determine, in order to ensure the student performs
  satisfactorily on the assessment instrument at the next
  administration of the assessment instrument, whether:
                     (A)  the educational plan developed for the
  student under Subsection (f) must be modified to provide the
  necessary accelerated instruction for that student; and
                     (B)  any additional resources are required for
  that student.
         (f-5)  The superintendent's designee under Subsection (f-4):
               (1)  may be an employee of a regional education service
  center; and
               (2)  may not be a person who served on the student's
  accelerated learning committee.
         (i)  The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a
  student who participates in a district's special education program
  under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and who does not perform
  satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under
  Subsection (a) and administered under Section 39.023(a) or (b) must
  meet to [before the student is administered the assessment
  instrument for the second time. The committee shall] determine[:
               [(1)]  the manner in which the student will participate
  in an accelerated instruction program under this section[; and
               [(2)  whether the student will be promoted in
  accordance with Subsection (i-1) or retained under this section].
         (k)  The commissioner may [shall] adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this section[, including rules concerning when school
  districts shall administer assessment instruments required under
  this section and which administration of the assessment instruments
  will be used for purposes of Section 39.054].
         (n)  Except as provided by Subsection (n-1), a [A] student
  who fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument
  specified under Subsection (a) and is promoted to the next grade
  level [by a grade placement committee under this section] must be
  assigned in the subsequent school year in each subject in which the
  student failed to perform satisfactorily on an assessment
  instrument specified under Subsection (a) to an appropriately
  certified [a] teacher who meets all state and federal
  qualifications to teach that subject and grade.
         (n-1)  In a manner consistent with federal law and
  notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may waive the
  requirement under Subsection (n) regarding the assignment of a
  student to an appropriately certified classroom teacher on the
  request of a school district.
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.0217, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0217.  ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL
  STUDENTS. (a) Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily
  on an assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(c),
  the school district in which the student attends school shall
  provide to the student accelerated instruction in the applicable
  subject area[, using funds appropriated for accelerated
  instruction under Section 28.0211].
         (b)  Accelerated instruction provided under this section:
               (1)  may require participation of the student before or
  after normal school hours and may include participation at times of
  the year outside normal school operations; and
               (2)  must comply with the requirements for accelerated
  instruction provided under Section 28.0211.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 29.0881 to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.0881.  STRONG FOUNDATIONS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The
  commissioner shall establish and administer a strong foundations
  grant program for campuses or a program at a campus serving students
  enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five to implement a
  rigorous school approach that combines high-quality instruction,
  materials, and support structures.
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt components that school
  districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and campuses of the
  districts or schools must implement under the strong foundations
  grant program. The components must include:
               (1)  use of high-quality instructional materials,
  curricula, and curricular tools;
               (2)  use of aligned diagnostic and formative
  assessments;
               (3)  aligned professional supports;
               (4)  practices designed to ensure high-quality
  supports for students with disabilities;
               (5)  evidence-based practices to increase and maintain
  parental engagement; and
               (6)  measurement of fidelity of implementation of the
  program.
         (c)  Grants provided under the strong foundations grant
  program may be in the form of funds, in-kind resources, or both.
         (d)  The commissioner shall use funds appropriated, federal
  funds, and other funds available for the strong foundations grant
  program to assist school districts and open-enrollment charter
  schools in implementing the program.
         (e)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  that receives grant funds under this section may use the funds to:
               (1)  financially support or train or otherwise prepare
  educators and other staff;
               (2)  pay for agreements with other entities to provide
  prekindergarten services; or
               (3)  pay for accelerated instruction provided under
  Section 28.0211 or 28.0217.
         (f)  The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, and
  donations from any source, including private and nonprofit
  organizations, for the program. A private or nonprofit
  organization that contributes to the program may receive an award
  under Section 7.113.
         SECTION 5.  Section 39.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b-1)  A school district shall provide each student who fails
  to perform satisfactorily as determined by the commissioner under
  Section 39.0241(a) on an end-of-course assessment instrument with
  accelerated instruction under Section 28.0217 in the subject
  assessed by the assessment instrument.
         SECTION 6.  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 high school program;
                     (B)  the distinguished level of achievement under
  the foundation high school program; and
                     (C)  each endorsement described by Section
  28.025(c-1);
               (2)  the results of the SAT, ACT, 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 take courses
  under the foundation high school program and take additional
  courses to earn an endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1),
  disaggregated by type of endorsement;
               (5)  the percentage of students, aggregated by grade
  level, provided accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211
  [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
  subsequent school year [following that promotion] on the assessment
  instruments required under Section 39.023;
               (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);
               (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);
               (8)  the percentage of students who satisfy the college
  readiness measure;
               (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;
               (10)  the percentage of students who are not
  educationally disadvantaged;
               (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
               (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.
         SECTION 7.  Section 39A.051(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  For a campus described by Subsection (a), the
  commissioner, to the extent the commissioner determines necessary,
  may:
               (1)  order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
  or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
  of trustees of the school district, the district superintendent,
  and the campus principal shall appear and explain the campus's low
  performance, lack of improvement, and plans for improvement; [or]
               (2)  establish a school community partnership team
  composed of members of the campus-level planning and
  decision-making committee established under Section 11.251 and
  additional community representatives as determined appropriate by
  the commissioner;
               (3)  if applicable under Section 39A.064, require the
  school district to comply with all requirements of the strong
  foundations grant program under Section 29.0881 for the campus; or
               (4)  any combination of the actions described by
  Subdivisions (1) through (3).
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39A, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39A.064 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39A.064.  STRONG FOUNDATIONS INTERVENTION FOR CERTAIN
  CAMPUSES. (a) Notwithstanding Section 39A.0545(b) or any other
  law, the commissioner may require a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school to comply with all requirements of
  the strong foundations grant program under Section 29.0881 at a
  campus that:
               (1)  includes students at any grade level from
  prekindergarten through fifth grade;
               (2)  is assigned an overall performance rating of D or
  F; and
               (3)  is in the bottom five percent of campuses in the
  state based on student performance on the grade three reading
  assessment administered under Section 39.023(a) during the
  previous school year, as determined by the commissioner.
         (b)  If funds are appropriated for the purpose, the
  commissioner shall award a grant under Section 29.0881 to any
  campus required to implement the requirements of the program under
  this section.
         (c)  The commissioner shall adopt rules to determine whether
  a school district or open-enrollment charter school is complying
  adequately with the requirements under this section.
         SECTION 9.  Section 51.338(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  A student who has demonstrated the performance standard
  for college readiness as provided by Section 28.008 on the
  postsecondary readiness assessment instruments adopted under
  Section 39.0238 for Algebra II and English III, as that section
  existed before repeal by H.B. 4545, Acts of the 87th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2021, is exempt from the requirements of this
  subchapter with respect to those content areas. The commissioner
  of higher education by rule shall establish the period for which an
  exemption under this subsection is valid.
         SECTION 10.  The following provisions of the Education Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Sections 28.0211(b), (d), (e), (i-1), (i-2), (m),
  and (m-1);
               (2)  Section 39.0231; and
               (3)  Section 39.0238.
         SECTION 11.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the board of trustees of a school district shall adopt
  a policy as required by Section 28.0211(f-3), Education Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 12.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 13.  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.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4545 was passed by the House on May
  13, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 82, Nays 63, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 4545 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 104, Nays 41,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4545 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays
  7.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor