84R7893 PAM-F
By: VanDeaver H.B. No. 1164
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the assessment of public school students in writing and
English language arts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
until on or before September 1, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
essential knowledge and skills in reading, English language arts
[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) English language arts [writing], including
spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;
(4) social studies, in grade eight;
(5) science, in grades five and eight; and
(6) any other subject and grade required by federal
law.
SECTION 2. Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
on or before September 1, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
essential knowledge and skills in reading, English language arts
[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, in grades three and five without the
aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid of technology on
any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
(2) reading, in grades three, five, and eight;
(3) English language arts [writing], including
spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;
(4) social studies, in grade eight; and
(5) science, in grades five and eight.
SECTION 3. Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
September 1, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
essential knowledge and skills in reading, English language arts
[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) English language arts [writing], including
spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;
(4) social studies, in grade eight;
(5) science, in grades five and eight; and
(6) any other subject and grade required by federal
law.
SECTION 4. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (q) to read as
follows:
(c) The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, biology,
English I, English II, and United States history. The Algebra I
end-of-course assessment instrument must be administered with the
aid of technology. The English I and English II end-of-course
assessment instruments must each assess essential knowledge and
skills in both reading and language arts [writing] in the same
assessment instrument and must provide a single score. A school
district shall comply with State Board of Education rules regarding
administration of the assessment instruments listed in this
subsection. 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).
(q) A writing sample submitted by a student in connection
with an assessment instrument administered under this section may
not be used to assess the student's writing for purposes of
accountability under this chapter or for purposes of grade
promotion or graduation criteria. The assessment of a student's
writing is governed by Section 39.0264.
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.0264 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.0264. LOCAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED: WRITING. To
evaluate student achievement in writing, each school district shall
assess students in grades four and seven and at the end of English I
and English II secondary-level courses in accordance with the
essential knowledge and skills for writing. A district may use any
method the district determines appropriate for assessing students
under this section, including portfolio assessment.
SECTION 6. Not later than September 1, 2016, the Texas
Education Agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
essential knowledge and skills in English language arts as required
by Section 39.023, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act applies beginning with the 2016-2017
school year.
SECTION 8. 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, 2015.