83R2225 VOO-D
By: Patrick S.B. No. 135
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of a public school student's performance on an
end-of-course assessment instrument in determining the student's
final grade for the course.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 28.014(c) and (f), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(c) The agency, in consultation with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt an end-of-course
assessment instrument for each course developed under this section
to ensure the rigor of the course. A school district shall, in
accordance with State Board of Education rules, administer the
end-of-course assessment instrument to a student enrolled in a
course developed under this section. A [Each school] district may
[shall] adopt a policy that requires a student's performance on the
end-of-course assessment instrument to account for not more than 15
percent of the student's final grade for the course. A student's
performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument administered
under this subsection may be used, on a scale of 0-40, in
calculating whether the student satisfies the graduation
requirements established under Section 39.025.
(f) To the extent applicable, the commissioner shall draw
from curricula and instructional materials developed under Section
[Sections] 28.008 [and 61.0763] in developing a course and related
instructional materials under this section. Not later than
September 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall adopt
essential knowledge and skills for each course developed under this
section. The State Board of Education shall make each course
developed under this section and the related instructional
materials available to school districts not later than the
2014-2015 school year. [As required by Subsection (c), a school
district shall adopt a policy requiring a student's performance on
an end-of-course assessment instrument administered under that
subsection to account for 15 percent of the student's grade for a
course developed under this section not later than the 2014-2015
school year.] This subsection expires September 1, 2015.
SECTION 2. Section 39.023(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, Algebra II,
geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II,
English III, world geography, world history, and United States
history. The Algebra I, Algebra II, and geometry end-of-course
assessment instruments must be administered with the aid of
technology. A school district shall comply with State Board of
Education rules regarding administration of the assessment
instruments listed in this subsection and may [shall] adopt a
policy that requires a student's performance on an end-of-course
assessment instrument for a course listed in this subsection in
which the student is enrolled to account for not more than 15
percent of the student's final grade for the course. [If a student
retakes an end-of-course assessment instrument for a course listed
in this subsection, as provided by Section 39.025, a school
district is not required to use the student's performance on the
subsequent administration or administrations of the assessment
instrument to determine the student's final grade for the course.]
If a student is in a special education program under Subchapter A,
Chapter 29, the student's admission, review, and dismissal
committee shall determine whether any allowable modification is
necessary in administering to the student an assessment instrument
required under this subsection. The State Board of Education shall
administer the assessment instruments. The State Board of
Education shall adopt a schedule for the administration of
end-of-course assessment instruments that complies with the
requirements of Subsection (c-3).
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.