88R22489 BDP-F
By: Howard H.B. No. 4870
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4870:
By: Buckley C.S.H.B. No. 4870
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an advanced mathematics program for public school
students in middle school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.029. MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVANCED MATHEMATICS PROGRAM.
(a) To increase the number of students who complete advanced
mathematics courses in high school, each school district and
open-enrollment charter school shall develop an advanced
mathematics program for middle school students that is designed to
enable those students to enroll in Algebra I in eighth grade.
(b) Under the program, subject to Subsection (c), a school
district or open-enrollment charter school shall automatically
enroll in an advanced mathematics course each sixth grade student
who performed in the top 40 percent on:
(1) the fifth grade mathematics assessment instrument
administered under Section 39.023(a); or
(2) a local measure that includes the student's fifth
grade class ranking or a demonstrated proficiency in the student's
fifth grade mathematics coursework.
(c) The parent or guardian of a student described by
Subsection (b) may opt the student out of automatic enrollment
under that subsection.
(d) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, each school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall develop the middle school advanced mathematics program
required by Section 28.029, Education Code, as added by this Act.
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.