82R9805 KJM-F
By: Patrick H.B. No. 3468
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the assessment of public school students for college
readiness and developmental education courses to prepare students
for college-level coursework.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0141 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0141. STUDY AND REPORT ON EARLY COLLEGE READINESS
ASSESSMENTS. (a) The agency, in consultation with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, shall conduct a study of best
practices for and existing programs offering early assessments of
high school students in order to determine college readiness,
identify any deficiencies in college readiness, and provide
intervention to address any deficiencies before high school
graduation. In conducting the study, the agency, in consultation
with the coordinating board, shall review:
(1) various assessments, including end-of-course
assessment instruments under Section 39.023(c) and any assessment
being proposed as a statewide model by the coordinating board under
Section 51.3062(v), for identifying students who need additional
assistance in preparing for college;
(2) various early intervention models, including:
(A) summer bridge programs;
(B) college preparatory English and mathematics
courses for credit toward high school graduation;
(C) developmental education programs, including
college readiness programs under Section 39.234, and college study
skills courses; and
(D) dual credit courses;
(3) the costs associated with different assessments
and early intervention models; and
(4) the effectiveness of different assessments and
early intervention models in preparing students for freshman-level
college coursework.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2012, the agency, in
consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker
of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each
legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over
primary and secondary education, higher education, or state
appropriations a written report that contains recommendations for
implementing an assessment and early intervention model for
preparing high school students before graduation for
freshman-level college coursework, as indicated by performance on
the assessment required under Section 51.3062.
(c) This section expires January 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.2531 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.2531. ADULT EDUCATION ASSESSMENT. The Texas
Education Agency shall, in consultation with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, review the standardized assessment
mechanism required under Section 29.252(a)(7) and recommend any
changes necessary to align the assessment with the assessments
designated under Section 51.3062 to allow for the proper placement
of a student in an adult basic education course or to provide the
student with the proper developmental coursework, as appropriate.
SECTION 3. Section 51.3062, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (t), (u), (v), and (w) to read as follows:
(t) To allow a student to complete any necessary
developmental coursework in the most efficient and cost-effective
manner, the board shall encourage public junior colleges to offer
various types of developmental coursework that address various
levels of deficiency in readiness to perform freshman-level college
coursework as determined on the basis of assessments as described
by Subsection (f). Each course under this subsection must, to the
greatest extent practicable, be offered to provide for credit,
noncredit, and demonstration of proficiency options.
(u) The board shall use evidence-based studies and existing
data to study and analyze:
(1) assessment instruments that are currently used or
could be used by institutions to comply with this section,
including the diagnostic reliability and cost-effectiveness of
those assessment instruments;
(2) differentiated placements, for developmental
coursework based on a student's demonstrated proficiences or
deficiencies in readiness to perform freshman-level college
coursework as determined on the basis of assessments as described
by Subsection (f), including the extent to which various types of
placements result in or serve efficient, cost-effective, and
successful developmental education;
(3) whether the funding formulas under Subsection (m)
and under Section 61.059, as applied to developmental coursework,
result in or serve efficient and cost-effective implementation of
successful developmental education; and
(4) whether any of the nonapplicability categories
under Subsection (r) should be retained.
(v) Not later than December 1, 2012, the board shall submit
a written report based on the study under Subsection (u) to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative
standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education
or state appropriations recommending a statewide diagnostic
standard assessment instrument for purposes of this section that
allows for:
(1) accurate diagnosis and targeted intervention for
students who are identified as requiring developmental coursework;
(2) appropriate placement to provide the type and
level of developmental coursework that allow a student to receive
developmental education in the most efficient, cost-effective, and
successful manner; and
(3) the most effective use of formula funding with
regard to developmental coursework targeted to students' needs.
(w) Subsections (u) and (v) and this subsection expire
January 1, 2013.
SECTION 4. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) The board shall include in its periodic review of
formulas under Subsection (b) recommendations for changes in
funding formulas for developmental education programs based on the
results of the study conducted under Section 51.3062(u) and the
report submitted under Section 51.3062(v). This subsection expires
January 1, 2015.
SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act to Section
61.059, Education Code, applies beginning with periodic reviews
submitted on or after December 1, 2012.
SECTION 6. 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.