84R2122 CAE-D
By: González H.B. No. 406
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a task force to determine alternative
methods of assessing the performance of public school students and
school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON ALTERNATIVES TO STANDARDIZED
TESTING. (a) A task force is established under this section to
determine alternative methods of assessing the performance of
public school students and school districts.
(b) The task force is composed of the following 42 members
appointed by the commissioner of education:
(1) 10 teachers who are certified in bilingual
education with a minimum of three years' classroom experience, with
appointment reflecting the geographic diversity of the state and
including teachers from both rural and urban school districts;
(2) three teachers specializing in language arts with
a minimum of three years' classroom experience;
(3) two teachers specializing in mathematics with a
minimum of three years' classroom experience;
(4) five teachers with a minimum of three years'
classroom experience;
(5) 10 school administrators and school district
central office administrators, with appointments reflecting the
geographic diversity of the state; and
(6) 12 members who are students, parents of students,
or community members, including university professors and
education policy researchers.
(c) The commissioner of education shall appoint the
presiding officer of the task force.
(d) The commissioner of education shall appoint the members
of the task force not later than December 1, 2015.
(e) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of
the task force on or before January 1, 2016. The task force shall
meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines
are appropriate. The task force shall adopt rules necessary to
fulfill the task force's duties under this section.
(f) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
task force.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall
evaluate alternative methods of measuring accountability to
replace standardized testing of students. The task force shall:
(1) determine alternative methods of measuring
accountability using multiple forms of evidence of student learning
and student growth, with information about student learning and
student growth obtained at the beginning, middle, and end of each
school year;
(2) develop an accountability measure that informs
teachers of the progress of students and provides real-time
diagnostic information to be used by the teacher;
(3) recommend a method of accountability that provides
assistance to teachers that is locally derived and reflects the
needs of the local district; and
(4) develop a system that is easy to incorporate and
streamline into curriculum and provides minimal disruption and
interruption to student learning.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than February 1, 2018, the
task force shall deliver a report to the commissioner of education
detailing the task force's findings and recommendations. The
report shall be made available on the Texas Education Agency's
Internet website.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this
Act expires March 1, 2018.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2015.