H.B. No. 1164
AN ACT
relating to requiring the Texas Education Agency to conduct a study
to develop a writing assessment method for public school students
and establish a pilot program to administer the assessment method
developed.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.02301 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.02301. WRITING ASSESSMENT STUDY; PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) During the 2015-2016 school year, the agency, in coordination
with the entity that has been contracted to develop or implement
assessment instruments under Section 39.023, shall conduct a study
to develop a writing assessment method as an alternative to the
writing assessment instruments required under Sections 39.023(a)
and (c). The writing assessment method must be designed to assess:
(1) a student's mastery of the essential knowledge and
skills in writing through timed writing samples;
(2) improvement of a student's writing skills from the
beginning of the school year to the end of the school year;
(3) a student's ability to follow the writing process
from rough draft to final product; and
(4) a student's ability to produce more than one type
of writing style.
(b) During the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, the
agency shall establish a pilot program as provided by this section
to implement in designated school districts the writing assessment
method developed under Subsection (a).
(c) The agency shall designate school districts to
participate in the pilot program as provided by this subsection.
The pilot program must include at least one large urban district,
one medium-sized district, and one rural district. Each district
included must have a student enrollment that is representative of
diverse demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds. To the extent
practicable, the agency shall designate the number of districts the
agency determines appropriate to achieve the cost savings described
by Subsection (d).
(d) A school district designated to participate in the pilot
program under this section is not required to comply with the
writing assessment requirements under Sections 39.023(a) and (c)
during the period the district is participating in the pilot
program. The agency shall, to the greatest extent practicable,
apply cost savings that result from the exemption under this
subsection to offset the costs accrued under this section.
(e) The agency shall establish the process for
consolidating student writing assessments under the method
developed under Subsection (a) to be submitted for scoring. This
process may include the submission of a student portfolio for
scoring.
(f) The individuals responsible for scoring student writing
assessments under the pilot program shall be coordinated jointly
by:
(1) the school district in which the student is
enrolled and that is participating in the pilot program;
(2) a public junior college or institution of higher
education that enters into an agreement with the participating
school district; and
(3) the regional education service center that serves
the participating district.
(g) A random sampling of scored student writing
assessments, the size of which the agency shall determine, shall be
delivered to the agency.
(h) Not later than September 1, 2016, the agency shall
prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction
over primary and secondary education a report covering the study of
the development of the writing assessment method under Subsection
(a). Not later than September 1 of each year in 2017 and 2018, the
agency shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with
primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education a report
that:
(1) evaluates the implementation and progress of the
pilot program under this section; and
(2) makes recommendations regarding the continuation
or expansion of the pilot program.
(i) The agency shall adopt rules as necessary to administer
this section.
(j) This section expires September 1, 2019.
SECTION 2. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1164 was passed by the House on April
30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1164 on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 92, Nays 45,
4 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1164 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 25, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays
6.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor