By: Carona S.B. No. 172
(Ratliff)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of
public school kindergarten students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 28.006, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) The commissioner shall adopt a list of reading
instruments that a school district may use to diagnose student
reading development and comprehension. For use in diagnosing the
reading development and comprehension of kindergarten students,
the commissioner shall include on the commissioner's list at least
two multidimensional assessment tools. A multidimensional
assessment tool on the commissioner's list must either include a
reading instrument and test at least three developmental skills,
including literacy, or test at least two developmental skills,
other than literacy, and be administered in conjunction with a
separate reading instrument that is on a list adopted under this
subsection. A multidimensional assessment tool administered as
provided by this subsection is considered to be a reading
instrument for purposes of this section. A district-level
committee established under Subchapter F, Chapter 11, may adopt a
list of reading instruments for use in the district in addition to
the reading instruments on the commissioner's list. Each reading
instrument adopted by the commissioner or a district-level
committee must be based on scientific research concerning reading
skills development and reading comprehension. A list of reading
instruments adopted under this subsection must provide for
diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of students
participating in a program under Subchapter B, Chapter 29.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
school year.
SECTION 3. 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.