82R10737 VOO-D
By: Isaac H.B. No. 3083
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to exemption from assessment instruments for students
attending public school campuses that are awarded certain
distinction designations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 39.023(a) and (i), Education Code, are
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. All students, except students assessed
under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027 or
39.0271, shall be assessed in:
(1) mathematics, annually in grades three through
seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid
of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
(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
(6) any other subject and grade required by federal
law.
(i) The provisions of this section, except Subsection (d),
are subject to modification by rules adopted under Section 39.022.
A modification by rule under this section does not affect Section
39.0271. Each assessment instrument adopted under those rules and
each assessment instrument required under Subsection (d) must be
reliable and valid and must meet any applicable federal
requirements for measurement of student progress.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 39.027, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 39.027. STUDENT EXEMPTION.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.0271 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.0271. CAMPUS EXEMPTION. (a) A student who attends
a campus that was awarded a recognized distinction designation
under Section 39.202 in the preceding school year is exempt from
the administration of an assessment instrument under Section
39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l) for the school year after the school
year the campus was awarded the distinction.
(b) A student who attends a campus that was awarded an
exemplary distinction designation under Section 39.202 is exempt
from the administration of an assessment instrument under Section
39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l) for the two school years after the
school year the campus was awarded the distinction.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 28.025(c)(1) and 39.025, a
student enrolled at a campus at which students are exempt from
administration of assessment instruments under this section who
would otherwise take an end-of-course assessment instrument under
Section 39.023(c) may graduate and receive a high school diploma
without being administered the assessment instrument.
SECTION 4. Section 39.052, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
(h) In determining the accreditation status of a school
district, the commissioner may not consider a campus whose students
are exempt from assessment instruments under Section 39.0271 in
evaluating the performance of the district on the assessment
instruments.
SECTION 5. Section 39.054, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) In evaluating school district and campus performance
under this section, the commissioner may not consider assessment
instruments for a campus whose students are exempt under Section
39.0271 from administration of those assessment instruments.
SECTION 6. This Act applies to campuses that are awarded
distinction designations beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.
SECTION 7. 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, 2011.