84R5133 PAM-D
By: Huberty H.B. No. 1468
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the assessment of fourth and seventh grade 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
adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:
(q) A writing sample submitted by a student in connection
with an assessment instrument administered under this section,
other than an English I or English II end-of-course assessment
instrument described by Subsection (c), may not be used to assess
the student's writing for purposes of accountability under this
chapter or for purposes of grade promotion criteria. Except as
provided by Subsection (c), 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 FOR WRITING IN
CERTAIN GRADES. (a) To evaluate student achievement in writing,
each school district shall assess students in grades four and seven
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.
(b) School districts shall report to the agency, as
determined by agency rule, the results of assessments required
under this section.
(c) The results of assessments required under this section
may not be used for purposes of accountability under this chapter or
for purposes of grade promotion criteria.
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.