88R1815 MLH-F By: Vasut H.B. No. 1983 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 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. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 28.0211(a), (a-1), (a-5), (c), (f-4), (i), and (n), Education Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) A school district shall establish an accelerated learning committee described by Subsection (c) for each student who for a second time does not perform satisfactorily on: (1) the third grade mathematics or reading assessment instrument under Section 39.023; (2) the fifth grade mathematics or reading assessment instrument under Section 39.023; or (3) the eighth grade mathematics or reading assessment instrument under Section 39.023. (a-1) If [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 one additional opportunity to take the assessment instrument before the beginning of the subsequent school year. If the student fails to perform satisfactorily on the assessment instrument a second time, the school district shall provide to the student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject area during the subsequent summer or school year and either: (1) allow the student to be assigned a classroom teacher who is certified as a master, exemplary, or recognized teacher under Section 21.3521 for the subsequent school year in the applicable subject area; or (2) provide the student supplemental instruction under Subsection (a-4). (a-5) Each school district shall establish a process allowing for the parent or guardian of a student who fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) a second time to make a request for district consideration that the student be assigned to a particular classroom teacher in the applicable subject area for the subsequent school year, if more than one classroom teacher is available. (c) After a student fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) a second time, the school district in which the student attends school shall establish an accelerated learning committee for the student [shall be established]. The accelerated learning 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 accelerated learning committee and the purpose of the committee. (f-4) If a student who fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) a second time fails in the subsequent school year to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument in the same subject, the superintendent of the district, or the superintendent's designee, shall meet with the student's accelerated learning committee to: (1) identify the reason the student did not perform satisfactorily; and (2) determine, in order to ensure the student performs satisfactorily on the assessment instrument at the next administration of the assessment instrument, whether: (A) the educational plan developed for the student under Subsection (f) must be modified to provide the necessary accelerated instruction for that student; and (B) any additional resources are required for that student. (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) a second time must meet to determine the manner in which the student will participate in an accelerated instruction program under this section. (n) Except as provided by Subsection (n-1), a student who fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) a second time and is promoted to the next grade level must be assigned in the subsequent school year in each subject in which the student failed to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) a second time to an appropriately certified teacher who meets all state and federal qualifications to teach that subject and grade. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. SECTION 3. 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, 2023.