Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB260

Caption

Relating to the administration of assessment instruments in public schools and eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation or to make certain accountability determinations.

Impact

The implications of SB260 are substantial, particularly for the educational framework within Texas. By removing standardized testing as a mandatory evaluation tool for promotion and graduation, the bill encourages a shift towards alternative assessments that may better reflect student understanding and capabilities. This could lead to significant changes in how schools approach education, potentially allowing for more individualized and holistic teaching strategies tailored to diverse student needs.

Summary

SB260 seeks to reform the administration of assessment instruments in public schools across Texas. A significant aspect of this bill is the elimination of the requirement that public school assessment results be used as a criterion for student promotion or graduation. This change intends to provide school districts with more autonomy regarding student evaluation and advancement, enabling them to consider a broader range of academic performance indicators beyond standardized tests.

Contention

Despite its intended benefits, the bill has faced criticism regarding concerns over accountability. Opponents argue that moving away from standardized assessments could result in a lack of consistent measurement of educational outcomes statewide, making it difficult to gauge student progress and school effectiveness. They emphasize that standardized tests help ensure that students meet essential educational benchmarks and maintain a level of academic rigor across the board. The debate surrounding this bill reflects a larger national conversation about the role of standardized testing in education, balancing the need for accountability with the desire for more flexible assessment methods.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB1981

Relating to the administration of assessment instruments to public school students.

TX HB2661

Relating to eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as indicators of achievement under the public school accountability system.

TX HB337

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.

TX HB58

TX HB1278

Relating to eliminating certain state-required assessment instruments and certain end-of-course assessment instruments not required by federal law.

TX HB4691

Relating to public school accountability, including performance standards and sanctions and public high school graduation requirements.

TX HB4402

Relating to the administration of certain assessment instruments, the accountability rating system for assessing campus and district performance, public school career and technology education programs, and an extracurricular and cocurricular allotment under the Foundation School Program.

TX HB2162

Relating to reading instruction, assessment instruments, and interventions provided to public school students.

TX HB2031

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.

TX SB2295

Relating to accelerated instruction provided for public school students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments, indicators under the public school accountability system, and performance standards in public schools.

Similar Bills

TX HB736

Relating to eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation or to make certain accountability determinations.

TX HB3668

Relating to the administration of assessment instruments in public schools, eliminating the requirement to use public school assessment instruments as a criterion for promotion or graduation, and the temporary suspension of certain accountability determinations for a school district or campus in a school year in which the operations of the district or campus are disrupted as a result of a declared disaster.