Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3046 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 03/04/2019

                            86R9825 CAE-D
 By: Pacheco H.B. No. 3046


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to eliminating the requirement to use public school
 assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 18.005(c), Education Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (c)  A Job Corps diploma program shall:
 (1)  develop educational programs specifically
 designed for persons eligible for enrollment in a Job Corps
 training program established by the United States Department of
 Labor;
 (2)  coordinate educational programs and services in
 the diploma program with programs and services provided by the
 United States Department of Labor and other federal and state
 agencies and local political subdivisions and by persons who
 provide programs and services under contract with the United States
 Department of Labor;
 (3)  provide a course of instruction that includes the
 required curriculum under Subchapter A, Chapter 28; and
 (4)  [require that students enrolled in the diploma
 program satisfy the requirements of Section 39.025 before receiving
 a diploma under this chapter; and
 [(5)]  comply with a requirement imposed under this
 title or a rule adopted under this title relating to the Public
 Education Information Management System (PEIMS) to the extent
 necessary to determine compliance with this chapter, as determined
 by the commissioner.
 SECTION 2.  Section 19.0043(b), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b)  A student may graduate and receive a diploma from a
 Windham School District educational program if:
 (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
 requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
 Section 28.025(a) [and complies with Section 39.025]; or
 (2)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
 requirements under Section 28.025(a) as modified by an
 individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
 SECTION 3.  Section 25.005(b), Education Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (b)  A reciprocity agreement must:
 (1)  address procedures for:
 (A)  transferring student records; and
 (B)  awarding credit for completed course work;
 and
 [(C)     permitting a student to satisfy the
 requirements of Section 39.025 through successful performance on
 comparable end-of-course or other exit-level assessment
 instruments administered in another state; and]
 (2)  include appropriate criteria developed by the
 agency.
 SECTION 4.  Section 28.021, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as
 follows:
 (a-1)  A student demonstrates proficiency of the subject
 matter of a course or grade level for purposes of promotion if the
 student performs satisfactorily on an assessment instrument
 administered for the subject matter of the course or grade level
 regardless of whether the student received a passing score in the
 subject matter of the course or grade level.
 (c)  In determining promotion under Subsection (a), a school
 district shall consider:
 (1)  the recommendation of the student's teacher;
 (2)  the student's grade in each subject or course; and
 (3)  [the student's score on an assessment instrument
 administered under Section 39.023(a), (b), or (l), to the extent
 applicable; and
 [(4)]  any other necessary academic information, as
 determined by the district.
 SECTION 5.  The heading to Section 28.0211, Education Code,
 is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 28.0211.  [SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE ON ASSESSMENT
 INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED;] ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION.
 SECTION 6.  Sections 28.0211(a-1), (c), (d), (i), and (k),
 Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a-1)  Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
 an assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(a) [in
 the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grade], the
 school district in which the student attends school shall provide
 to the student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject
 area. Accelerated instruction may require participation of the
 student before or after normal school hours and may include
 participation at times of the year outside normal school
 operations.
 (c)  [Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
 an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a), the school
 district in which the student attends school shall provide to the
 student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject area,
 including reading instruction for a student who fails to perform
 satisfactorily on a reading assessment instrument.   After a student
 fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument a
 second time,   a grade placement committee shall be established to
 prescribe the accelerated instruction the district shall provide to
 the student before the student is administered the assessment
 instrument the third time. The grade placement committee shall be
 composed of the principal or the principal's designee, the
 student's parent or guardian, and the teacher of the subject of an
 assessment instrument on which the student failed to perform
 satisfactorily. The district shall notify the parent or guardian
 of the time and place for convening the grade placement committee
 and the purpose of the committee.] An accelerated instruction
 group administered by a school district under this section may not
 have a ratio of more than 10 students for each teacher.
 (d)  In addition to providing accelerated instruction to a
 student under Subsection (a-1) [(c)], the district shall notify the
 student's parent or guardian of:
 (1)  the student's failure to perform satisfactorily on
 the assessment instrument; and
 (2)  the accelerated instruction program to which the
 student is assigned[; and
 [(3)     the possibility that the student might be
 retained at the same grade level for the next school year].
 (i)  The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a
 student who participates in a district's special education program
 under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and who does not perform
 satisfactorily on an assessment instrument [specified under
 Subsection (a) and] administered under Section 39.023(a) or (b)
 must meet before the student is administered the assessment
 instrument for the second time. The committee shall determine[:
 [(1)]  the manner in which the student will participate
 in an accelerated instruction program under this section[; and
 [(2)     whether the student will be promoted in
 accordance with Subsection (i-1) or retained under this section].
 (k)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
 implement this section[, including rules concerning when school
 districts shall administer assessment instruments required under
 this section and which administration of the assessment instruments
 will be used for purposes of Section 39.054].
 SECTION 7.  Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsections (b-7), (c), and (e) and adding Subsection
 (c-8) to read as follows:
 (b-7)  The State Board of Education, in coordination with the
 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to
 ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum requirements
 under the foundation high school program or for an endorsement
 under Subsection (c-1) by successfully completing appropriate
 courses in the core curriculum of an institution of higher
 education under Section 61.822. Notwithstanding Subsection (b-15)
 or (c) [of this section, Section 39.025,] or any other provision of
 this code and notwithstanding any school district policy, a student
 who has completed the core curriculum of an institution of higher
 education under Section 61.822, as certified by the institution in
 accordance with commissioner rule, is considered to have earned a
 distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
 program and is entitled to receive a high school diploma from the
 appropriate high school as that high school is determined in
 accordance with commissioner rule.  A student who is considered to
 have earned a distinguished level of achievement under the
 foundation high school program under this subsection may apply for
 admission to an institution of higher education for the first
 semester or other academic term after the semester or other
 academic term in which the student completes the core curriculum.
 (c)  A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible
 for a diploma under Section 28.0251.  In other cases, a student may
 graduate and receive a diploma only if:
 (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
 requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
 Subsection (a) [and complies with Section 39.025]; or
 (2)  the student successfully completes an
 individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
 (c-8)  For purposes of Subsection (c)(1), a student
 successfully completes curriculum requirements identified by the
 State Board of Education if the student performs satisfactorily on
 an end-of-course assessment instrument administered for the course
 regardless of whether the student received a passing score in the
 course.
 (e)  Each school district shall report the academic
 achievement record of students who have completed the foundation
 high school program on transcript forms adopted by the State Board
 of Education.  [The transcript forms adopted by the board must be
 designed to clearly identify whether a student received a diploma
 or a certificate of coursework completion.]
 SECTION 8.  Section 28.0255(g), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (g)  A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the
 student[:
 [(1)]  successfully complies with the curriculum
 requirements specified under Subsection (e)[; and
 [(2)     performs satisfactorily, as determined by the
 commissioner under Subsection (h), on end-of-course assessment
 instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the
 student was enrolled].
 SECTION 9.  Section 29.081(b-1), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b-1)  Each school district shall offer before the next
 scheduled administration of the assessment instrument, without
 cost to the student, additional accelerated instruction to each
 student in any subject in which the student failed to perform
 satisfactorily on an end-of-course assessment instrument listed in
 Section 39.023(c) [required for graduation].
 SECTION 10.  Section 29.259(g), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (g)  A person who is at least 19 years of age and not more
 than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in the adult education
 program under this section if the person has not earned a high
 school equivalency certificate and:
 (1)  has failed to complete the curriculum requirements
 for high school graduation; or
 (2)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
 assessment instrument that, before the 2019-2020 school year, was
 required for high school graduation.
 SECTION 11.  Section 29.402(c), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (c)  A public junior college under this section shall:
 (1)  design a dropout recovery curriculum that includes
 career and technology education courses that lead to industry or
 career certification;
 (2)  integrate into the dropout recovery curriculum
 research-based strategies to assist students in becoming able
 academically to pursue postsecondary education, including:
 (A)  high quality, college readiness instruction
 with strong academic and social supports;
 (B)  secondary to postsecondary bridging that
 builds college readiness skills, provides a plan for college
 completion, and ensures transition counseling; and
 (C)  information concerning appropriate supports
 available in the first year of postsecondary enrollment to ensure
 postsecondary persistence and success, to the extent funds are
 available for the purpose;
 (3)  offer advanced academic and transition
 opportunities, including dual credit courses and college
 preparatory courses, such as advanced placement courses; and
 (4)  coordinate with each partnering school district to
 provide in the articulation agreement that the district retains
 accountability for student attendance and[,] student completion of
 high school course requirements[, and student performance on
 assessment instruments] as necessary for the student to receive a
 diploma from a high school of the partnering school district.
 SECTION 12.  Section 30.021(e), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (e)  The school shall cooperate with public and private
 agencies and organizations serving students and other persons with
 visual impairments in the planning, development, and
 implementation of effective educational and rehabilitative service
 delivery systems associated with educating students with visual
 impairments. To maximize and make efficient use of state
 facilities, funding, and resources, the services provided in this
 area may include conducting a cooperative program with other
 agencies to serve students who have graduated from high school by
 completing all academic requirements applicable to students in
 regular education[, excluding satisfactory performance under
 Section 39.025,] who are younger than 22 years of age on September 1
 of the school year and who have identified needs related to
 vocational training, independent living skills, orientation and
 mobility, social and leisure skills, compensatory skills, or
 remedial academic skills.
 SECTION 13.  Section 30.104(b), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b)  A student may graduate and receive a diploma from a
 department educational program if:
 (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
 requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
 Section 28.025(a) [and complies with Section 39.025]; or
 (2)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
 requirements under Section 28.025(a) as modified by an
 individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
 SECTION 14.  Section 32.258(b), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b)  The system established under Subsection (a) shall
 provide a means for a student or the student's parent or other
 person standing in parental relation [relationship] to track the
 student's progress on end-of-course assessment instruments
 administered under Section 39.023(c) [instrument requirements for
 graduation].
 SECTION 15.  Section 39.023(c-2), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (c-2)  The agency may adopt end-of-course assessment
 instruments for courses not listed in Subsection (c).  A student's
 performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted
 under this subsection is not subject to any [the] performance
 requirements [established under Subsection (c) or Section 39.025].
 SECTION 16.  The heading to Section 39.025, Education Code,
 is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 39.025.  USE OF END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT
 [SECONDARY-LEVEL PERFORMANCE REQUIRED].
 SECTION 17.  Section 39.025(a), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (a)  The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student
 in the foundation high school program under Section 28.025 to be
 administered an end-of-course assessment instrument listed in
 Section 39.023(c) only for a course in which the student is enrolled
 and for which an end-of-course assessment instrument is
 administered. Each student's performance on an end-of-course
 assessment instrument shall be evaluated to determine whether the
 [A] student achieved [is required to achieve] a scale score that
 indicates satisfactory performance, as determined by the
 commissioner under Section 39.0241(a)[, on each end-of-course
 assessment instrument administered to the student]. The results of
 the administration of an end-of-course assessment instrument
 required under this subsection may not be used as criteria for
 graduation. The results may be used only for the purpose of
 diagnosing the academic strengths and deficiencies of a student and
 guiding specific instruction to the student.  [For each scale score
 required under this subsection that is not based on a 100-point
 scale scoring system, the commissioner shall provide for
 conversion, in accordance with commissioner rule, of the scale
 score to an equivalent score based on a 100-point scale scoring
 system. A student may not receive a high school diploma until the
 student has performed satisfactorily on end-of-course assessment
 instruments in the manner provided under this subsection. This
 subsection does not require a student to demonstrate readiness to
 enroll in an institution of higher education.]
 SECTION 18.  Section 39.034(d), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (d)  The agency shall determine the necessary annual
 improvement required each year for a student to be prepared to
 perform satisfactorily on, as applicable:
 (1)  the grade five assessment instruments;
 (2)  the grade eight assessment instruments; and
 (3)  the end-of-course assessment instruments listed
 in Section 39.023(c) [required under this subchapter for
 graduation].
 SECTION 19.  Section 39.053(c), Education Code, as amended
 by Chapters 807 (H.B. 22), 842 (H.B. 2223), and 1088 (H.B. 3593),
 Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is reenacted
 and amended to read as follows:
 (c)  School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on
 three domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this
 section that include:
 (1)  in the student achievement domain, indicators of
 student achievement that must include:
 (A)  for evaluating the performance of districts
 and campuses generally:
 (i)  an indicator that accounts for the
 results of assessment instruments required under Sections
 39.023(a), (c), and (l), as applicable for the district and campus,
 [including the results of assessment instruments required for
 graduation retaken by a student,] aggregated across grade levels by
 subject area, including:
 (a)  for the performance standard
 determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), the
 percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the
 assessment instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject
 area; and
 (b)  for the college readiness
 performance standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the
 percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the
 assessment instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject
 area; and
 (ii)  an indicator that accounts for the
 results of assessment instruments required under Section
 39.023(b), as applicable for the district and campus, including the
 percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the
 assessment instruments, as determined by the performance standard
 adopted by the agency, aggregated across grade levels by subject
 area; and
 (B)  for evaluating the performance of high school
 campuses and districts that include high school campuses,
 indicators that account for:
 (i)  students who satisfy the Texas Success
 Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334 on
 an assessment instrument in reading or mathematics designated by
 the coordinating board under that section;
 (ii)  students who satisfy relevant
 performance standards on advanced placement tests or similar
 assessments;
 (iii)  students who earn dual course credits
 in the dual credit courses;
 (iv)  students who enlist in the armed
 forces of the United States;
 (v)  students who earn industry
 certifications;
 (vi)  students admitted into postsecondary
 industry certification programs that require as a prerequisite for
 entrance successful performance at the secondary level;
 (vii)  students whose successful completion
 of a course or courses under Section 28.014 indicates the student's
 preparation to enroll and succeed, without remediation, in an
 entry-level general education course for a baccalaureate degree or
 associate degree;
 (viii)  students who successfully met
 standards on a composite of indicators that through research
 indicates the student's preparation to enroll and succeed, without
 remediation, in an entry-level general education course for a
 baccalaureate degree or associate degree;
 (ix)  high school graduation rates, computed
 in accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance
 with the Every Student Succeeds Act (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)
 subject to the exclusions provided by Subsections (g), (g-1),
 (g-2), and (g-3);
 (x)  students who successfully completed an
 OnRamps dual enrollment course; [and]
 (xi)  [the percentage of] students who
 successfully completed a practicum or internship approved by the
 State Board of Education; and
 (xii)  students who are awarded an associate
 [associate's] degree;
 (2)  in the school progress domain, indicators for
 effectiveness in promoting student learning, which must include:
 (A)  for assessment instruments, including
 assessment instruments under Subdivisions (1)(A)(i) and (ii), the
 percentage of students who met the standard for improvement, as
 determined by the commissioner; and
 (B)  for evaluating relative performance, the
 performance of districts and campuses compared to similar districts
 or campuses; and
 (3)  in the closing the gaps domain, the use of
 disaggregated data to demonstrate the differentials among students
 from different racial and ethnic groups, socioeconomic
 backgrounds, and other factors, including:
 (A)  students formerly receiving special
 education services;
 (B)  students continuously enrolled; and
 (C)  students who are mobile.
 SECTION 20.  Section 39.301(c), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (c)  Indicators for reporting purposes must include:
 (1)  the percentage of graduating students who meet the
 course requirements established by State Board of Education rule
 for:
 (A)  the foundation high school program;
 (B)  the distinguished level of achievement under
 the foundation high school program; and
 (C)  each endorsement described by Section
 28.025(c-1);
 (2)  the results of the SAT, ACT, and certified
 workforce training programs described by Chapter 311, Labor Code;
 (3)  for students who have failed to perform
 satisfactorily, under each performance standard under Section
 39.0241, on an assessment instrument [required] under Section
 39.023(a) or (c), the performance of those students on subsequent
 assessment instruments [required] under those sections, aggregated
 by grade level and subject area;
 (4)  for each campus, the number of students,
 disaggregated by major student subpopulations, that take courses
 under the foundation high school program and take additional
 courses to earn an endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1),
 disaggregated by type of endorsement;
 (5)  the percentage of students, aggregated by grade
 level, provided accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211
 [28.0211(c), the results of assessment instruments administered
 under that section, the percentage of students promoted through the
 grade placement committee process under Section 28.0211], the
 subject of the assessment instrument on which each student failed
 to perform satisfactorily under each performance standard under
 Section 39.0241, and the performance of those students in the
 following school year [following that promotion] on the assessment
 instruments [required] under Section 39.023;
 (6)  the percentage of students of limited English
 proficiency exempted from the administration of an assessment
 instrument under Sections 39.027(a)(1) and (2);
 (7)  the percentage of students in a special education
 program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, assessed through assessment
 instruments developed or adopted under Section 39.023(b);
 (8)  the percentage of students who satisfy the college
 readiness measure;
 (9)  the measure of progress toward dual language
 proficiency under Section 39.034(b), for students of limited
 English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052;
 (10)  the percentage of students who are not
 educationally disadvantaged;
 (11)  the percentage of students who enroll and begin
 instruction at an institution of higher education in the school
 year following high school graduation; and
 (12)  the percentage of students who successfully
 complete the first year of instruction at an institution of higher
 education without needing a developmental education course.
 SECTION 21.  Effective September 1, 2019, the following
 provisions of the Education Code are repealed:
 (1)  Section 19.0043(c);
 (2)  Sections 28.0211(a), (a-2), (b), (e), (f), (g),
 (i-1), (i-2), (n), (o), and (p);
 (3)  Section 28.025(d);
 (4)  Section 28.0255(h);
 (5)  Section 30.104(c);
 (6)  Sections 39.025(a-1), (a-4), (b), (c), (c-1),
 (c-2), (d), (e), (f), (f-1), (f-2), and (g); and
 (7)  Section 39.025(a-2), as added by Chapter 1036
 (H.B. 1613), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.
 SECTION 22.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
 over another Act of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019,
 relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
 codes.
 SECTION 23.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
 school year.
 SECTION 24.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, 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, 2019.