Texas House Bill HB1244

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the United States history end-of-course assessment instrument administered to public high school students and reporting requirements for that assessment instrument.

Impact

The legislation applies to students entering ninth grade in the 2019-2020 academic year and significantly changes how U.S. history is assessed in Texas schools. The inclusion of civics-related questions in history assessments underscores a growing recognition of the importance of civics education in fostering informed and engaged citizens. By requiring detailed reports on student performance, the bill aims to improve accountability within the educational framework regarding students' understanding of not only historical facts but also civics education.

Summary

House Bill 1244 aims to enhance the end-of-course assessment for United States history administered to public high school students in Texas. The bill mandates that the assessment includes ten questions that are randomly selected from the civics test used in the naturalization process for U.S. citizenship. This initiative is intended to ensure that students not only learn about U.S. history but also acquire knowledge about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The bill stipulates that the assessment questions must align with the established educational standards and that detailed performance reports must be generated annually.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 1244 appears to be largely favorable among the legislative body, as evidenced by the substantial margins in voting (142-3 in the House and 31-0 in the Senate). Advocates argue that enhancing civics education is crucial in an age of increasing civic disengagement. However, there may be concerns among educators regarding the increased emphasis on standardized testing and whether such assessments can adequately capture student understanding of complex historical and civic concepts.

Contention

While there is broad support for the intent behind HB 1244, there could be potential contention regarding the implementation of the civics test questions. Educators may debate the appropriateness of including a familiarity with civics questions as part of a history assessment and whether it may detract from in-depth historical analysis. Overall, while the bill seeks to promote informed citizenship, how effectively these changes translate in classrooms remains to be seen.