By: Farrar H.B. No. 3973
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the validity, reliability, and design of certain
state-adopted or state-developed assessment instruments for public
school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (a-11) and (a-12) to read as follows:
(a-11) 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-12) The agency shall ensure that an assessment
instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) is designed
only to assess student understanding of 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.
(a-13) An assessment instrument adopted or developed under
Subsection (a) may be used only for purposes:
(1) for which the assessment instrument is designed;
and
(2) for which, on the basis of empirical evidence, the
assessment instrument is 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.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
school year.
SECTION 3. 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.