83S30026 MEW-F
By: Ratliff H.B. No. 23
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain state-adopted or state-developed assessment
instruments for public school students and to a certain indicator
of student achievement.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (a-12), (a-13), (a-14), and (a-15) to read as
follows:
(a-12) Before an assessment instrument adopted or developed
under Subsection (a) may be administered under that subsection, the
assessment instrument must, on the basis of empirical evidence, be
determined to be valid and reliable by an entity that is independent
of the agency and of any other entity that developed the assessment
instrument.
(a-13) The agency shall ensure that an assessment
instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) is designed to
primarily assess the essential knowledge and skills identified by
the State Board of Education under Section 28.002 of the subject and
for the grade level for which the assessment instrument is
administered. Only to the extent necessary or helpful for
diagnostic or reporting purposes, the assessment instrument may
also assess supporting knowledge or skills that are introduced or
referenced in the subject and for the grade level for which the
assessment instrument is administered but that are identified as
essential knowledge or skills primarily of a different subject or
for a different grade level.
(a-14) An assessment instrument adopted or developed under
Subsection (a) must be designed so that:
(1) if administered to students in grades three
through five, 85 percent of students will be able to complete the
assessment instrument within 120 minutes; and
(2) if administered to students in grades six through
eight, 85 percent of students will be able to complete the
assessment instrument within 180 minutes.
(a-15) The amount of time allowed for administration of an
assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) may
not exceed eight hours, and the administration may occur on only one
day.
SECTION 2. Section 39.053, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c-3) to read as follows:
(c-3) The indicator of student achievement under Subsection
(c)(1) may not include student performance as to supporting
knowledge or skills as described by Section 39.023(a-13).
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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.