BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2803 By: Hochberg Public Education Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to a recent Texas Education Agency (TEA) study on school districts' readiness for online testing, schools across Texas currently lack the capability to administer tests online. The study found that fewer than 10 percent of schools have enough computers to administer all but accommodated tests online and exposed districts' concerns about the costs associated with computers, networking equipment, training, support staff, and infrastructure improvement. Additionally, in contrast to initial expectations, it has been demonstrated that online testing does not significantly reduce delays in reporting test results. The statutory requirement that TEA ensure the capability to administer tests online should be removed because of school districts' overall lack of readiness and because the benefits of online testing do not currently outweigh the costs C.S.H.B. 2803 repeals a requirement that TEA ensure that assessment tests are capable of being administered by computer. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2803 repeals Section 39.0234, Education Code, which contains a provision requiring the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ensure that required assessment instruments are capable of being administered by computer and a provision set to expire June 1, 2009, requiring each school district to provide TEA with data regarding the district's ability to administer required tests by computer, for the purpose of delivering a report to the legislature. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2009. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 2803 differs from the original by changing the caption to state that the bill's subject matter relates to the state-mandated assessment instruments by computer, whereas the original's caption stated that the bill's subject matter related to the administration of assessment instruments by computer.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2803
By: Hochberg
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 2803
By: Hochberg
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to a recent Texas Education Agency (TEA) study on school districts' readiness for online testing, schools across Texas currently lack the capability to administer tests online. The study found that fewer than 10 percent of schools have enough computers to administer all but accommodated tests online and exposed districts' concerns about the costs associated with computers, networking equipment, training, support staff, and infrastructure improvement. Additionally, in contrast to initial expectations, it has been demonstrated that online testing does not significantly reduce delays in reporting test results. The statutory requirement that TEA ensure the capability to administer tests online should be removed because of school districts' overall lack of readiness and because the benefits of online testing do not currently outweigh the costs C.S.H.B. 2803 repeals a requirement that TEA ensure that assessment tests are capable of being administered by computer.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2803 repeals Section 39.0234, Education Code, which contains a provision requiring the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ensure that required assessment instruments are capable of being administered by computer and a provision set to expire June 1, 2009, requiring each school district to provide TEA with data regarding the district's ability to administer required tests by computer, for the purpose of delivering a report to the legislature.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2009.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B. 2803 differs from the original by changing the caption to state that the bill's subject matter relates to the state-mandated assessment instruments by computer, whereas the original's caption stated that the bill's subject matter related to the administration of assessment instruments by computer.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
According to a recent Texas Education Agency (TEA) study on school districts' readiness for online testing, schools across Texas currently lack the capability to administer tests online. The study found that fewer than 10 percent of schools have enough computers to administer all but accommodated tests online and exposed districts' concerns about the costs associated with computers, networking equipment, training, support staff, and infrastructure improvement. Additionally, in contrast to initial expectations, it has been demonstrated that online testing does not significantly reduce delays in reporting test results. The statutory requirement that TEA ensure the capability to administer tests online should be removed because of school districts' overall lack of readiness and because the benefits of online testing do not currently outweigh the costs
C.S.H.B. 2803 repeals a requirement that TEA ensure that assessment tests are capable of being administered by computer.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2803 repeals Section 39.0234, Education Code, which contains a provision requiring the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ensure that required assessment instruments are capable of being administered by computer and a provision set to expire June 1, 2009, requiring each school district to provide TEA with data regarding the district's ability to administer required tests by computer, for the purpose of delivering a report to the legislature.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2009.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B. 2803 differs from the original by changing the caption to state that the bill's subject matter relates to the state-mandated assessment instruments by computer, whereas the original's caption stated that the bill's subject matter related to the administration of assessment instruments by computer.