Relating to the United States history end-of-course assessment instrument for public high school students.
Impact
The bill amends various sections of the Education Code, specifically modifying Section 39.023 by adding a new section that outlines the requirements for the administration of this civics test. It establishes that passing this assessment, which requires answering at least 70% of the questions correctly, will be a condition of graduation. Special provisions are included for students in special education programs to ensure they receive the necessary adjustments to their assessments.
Summary
SB1288 addresses the requirement for a United States history end-of-course assessment for public high school students in Texas. The legislation mandates that beginning with students entering 9th grade in the 2018-2019 school year, they must take a civics test administered according to guidelines set forth by the school district and applicable educational authorities. The civics test is intended to ensure that students possess essential knowledge of U.S. history and government as they progress towards graduation.
Contention
Notably, there may be contention regarding the implementation of this bill given its emphasis on high-stakes testing for graduation. Discussion around SB1288 could involve debates about the effectiveness of standardized testing as a measure of a student’s knowledge in U.S. history and civics. Concerns may also arise over the fairness of requiring additional testing, especially for students with learning disabilities or those receiving special accommodations.
Further_points
Moreover, the bill suggests that there will not be restrictions on the grade level at which students may take this civics test or limitations on the number of attempts to pass it, aiming to provide flexibility in how schools approach these requirements. This legislative change may promote civic education but could also lead to diverse opinions on its necessity and impact on overall educational quality.
Identical
Relating to including a civics test in the graduation requirements for public high school students and to eliminating the United States history end-of-course assessment instrument.
Relating to the assessment of public school students and the provision of accelerated instruction to students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments.
Relating to eliminating certain state-required end-of-course assessment instruments not required by federal law and eliminating graduation requirements based on satisfactory performance on certain end-of-course assessment instruments.
Relating to secondary-level assessment of public school students and the use of individual graduation committees to satisfy certain public high school graduation requirements.