Relating to a pilot program in certain school districts exempting those districts from administering standard assessment instruments and authorizing alternative assessment instruments.
Impact
The proposed changes would adjust the way school districts assess student achievement under Texas law. By allowing alternative assessment instruments such as the ACT Plan, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and others, the bill could lead to a more diversified evaluation of student performance. This could potentially improve educational outcomes for students by offering assessments that are more aligned with their specific strengths and weaknesses and more reflective of their learning experiences.
Summary
House Bill 3583 establishes a pilot program that exempts certain school districts from administering standard assessment instruments, allowing them to use alternative assessment tools instead. The bill aims to provide flexibility in educational assessments by granting permission for selected districts to adopt various approved assessment instruments, rather than being tied to the traditional standards. This approach is intended to enable districts to tailor assessment methods that may better suit their student populations and educational goals.
Contention
While the bill aims to empower school districts with more options for assessment, there are notable points of contention. Critics might argue that straying from standard assessments could lead to discrepancies in educational quality and unfair comparisons between districts. Standard assessments provide a uniform measure across the state, and removing this could result in variations that might undermine accountability in education. Proponents of traditional assessments may express concern that stakeholders such as parents and administrators will find it challenging to evaluate student performance effectively without a common metric.
Implementation
The bill mandates that the Texas commissioner of education establish the pilot program by September 1, 2015, providing a clear timeline for execution. Participating districts would apply to join the program, which would be limited to those with a student enrollment of 70,000 or more, further emphasizing the focus on larger school districts. Additionally, the outlined grant program will financially support districts in this transition, making it a crucial aspect of the implementation strategy.
Relating to the administration of certain assessment instruments, the accountability rating system for assessing campus and district performance, public school career and technology education programs, and an extracurricular and cocurricular allotment under the Foundation School Program.
Relating to the use of interim testing and adaptive, growth-based assessment instruments for certain required assessments of public school students and prohibiting the use of the results of certain required assessments of public school students for certain purposes.
Relating to the use of interim testing and adaptive, growth-based assessment instruments for certain required assessments of public school students and prohibiting the use of the results of certain required assessments of public school students for certain purposes.
Relating to eliminating the state-required assessment instrument in social studies and the United States history end-of-course assessment instrument and to establishing a pilot program to develop a portfolio method to assess student performance in those courses.
Relating to the administration of assessment instruments in public schools and eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation or to make certain accountability determinations.
Relating to the administration of certain assessment instruments, the accountability rating system for assessing campus and district performance, public school career and technology education programs, and an extracurricular and cocurricular allotment under the Foundation School Program.
Relating to eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation or to make certain accountability determinations.