By: Taylor of Galveston S.B. No. 1200
Garcia
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a commission to recommend a new system
for student assessment and public school accountability.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 39, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter N to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER N. TEXAS COMMISSION ON NEXT GENERATION ASSESSMENTS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
Sec. 39.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
means the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and
Accountability.
Sec. 39.502. TEXAS COMMISSION ON NEXT GENERATION
ASSESSMENTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) The Texas Commission on Next
Generation Assessments and Accountability is established to
develop and make recommendations for new systems of student
assessment and public school accountability.
(b) The commission is composed of 15 members, consisting of
the following:
(1) four members appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives;
(4) the chair of the senate committee on education, or
a representative designated by the chair;
(5) the chair of the senate committee on higher
education, or a representative designated by the chair;
(6) the chair of the house of representatives
committee on public education, or a representative designated by
the chair;
(7) the chair of the house of representatives
committee on higher education, or a representative designated by
the chair; and
(8) a member of the State Board of Education, as
designated by the chair of that board.
(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2),
and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the
commission includes at least one of each of the following
representatives:
(1) a parent or person standing in parental relation
to a student enrolled in the public school system;
(2) an educator in the public school system;
(3) an educator in a school district that is a
participant in the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium under
Section 7.0561;
(4) a member of the business community;
(5) a member of the civic community;
(6) a leader in student assessment development and
use; and
(7) a leader in research concerning student assessment
and education outcomes.
Sec. 39.503. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate the presiding officer of the commission.
Sec. 39.504. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
Sec. 39.505. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING.
(a) Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative
support for the commission.
(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency
for that purpose.
Sec. 39.506. RECOMMENDATIONS. The commission shall develop
recommendations under this subchapter to address:
(1) the purpose of a state accountability system and
the role of student assessment in that system;
(2) opportunities to assess students that:
(A) provide actionable information for a parent
or person standing in parental relation to a student, an educator,
and the public;
(B) support learning activities;
(C) recognize application of skills and
knowledge;
(D) measure student educational growth toward
mastery; and
(E) value critical thinking;
(3) alignment of state performance standards with
college and career readiness requirements in collaboration with the
Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board;
(4) policy changes necessary to enable a student to
progress through subject matter and grade levels on demonstration
of mastery; and
(5) policy changes necessary to establish a student
assessment and public school accountability system that meets state
goals, is community based, promotes parent and community
involvement, and reflects the unique needs of each community.
Sec. 39.507. REPORT. (a) The commission shall prepare and
deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that
recommends statutory changes to improve systems of student
assessment and public school accountability not later than
September 1, 2016.
(b) In preparing the report, the commission shall consider
the recommendations of the Texas High Performance Schools
Consortium established under Section 7.0561, including
recommendations related to innovative, next-generation learning
standards and assessment and accountability systems.
Sec. 39.508. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION.
(a) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill
its duties under this subchapter.
(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
Government Code.
Sec. 39.509. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
SUBCHAPTER. (a) The commission is abolished January 1, 2017.
(b) This subchapter expires January 1, 2017.
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.