By: Ratliff H.B. No. 2836
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state assessment instruments administered in grades
three through eight in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments, that are established
empirically to be valid and reliable by an entity that is
independent of the test developer and the agency, and designed to
assess essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing,
mathematics, social studies, and science. Except as provided by
Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under
Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, 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;
(3) [(5)] science, in grades five and eight; and
(4) [(6)] any other subject and grade required by
federal law.
(a-1) Criterion-referenced assessment instruments shall be
designed to measure only readiness standards as identified by the
agency for the purposes of determining passing rates for use in the
school accountability ratings. The agency may also include
supporting standards in the assessment for diagnostic and reporting
purposes only and may not use the results of items related to
supporting standards for accountability rating purposes.
(1) In (a-1) "readiness standards" shall mean only
those standards that are essential for success in the current grade
or course
(2) In (a-2) "supporting standards" shall mean
standards that are referenced or introduced in the current grade or
course and are readiness standards in another grade or course
SECTION 2. Section 39.023(r), Education Code, is added to
read as follows:
(r) Assessment instruments shall be designed and
administered as follows:
(1) For grades 3 through 5 the assessment shall be
designed such that 85% of students complete the assessment within
120 minutes.
(2) For grades 6 through 8 the assessment shall be
designed such that 85% of students complete the assessment within
180 minutes
(3) The maximum time allowed for the test shall be 8
hours and it shall be administered in one calendar day.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
school year.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.