By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1429
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of standardized examinations by a school of
nursing or educational program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.1571 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.1571. USE OF STANDARDIZED EXAMINATIONS. (a) The
board shall adopt rules related to the use by a school of nursing or
educational program offered in this state of a standardized
examination prepared by a private entity. The rules must prohibit
the use of a standardized examination as a graduation requirement
or to deny students an affidavit of graduation. The rules may
authorize the use of a standardized examination only to:
(1) familiarize students with computerized testing;
(2) assess potential or enrolled students for purposes
of:
(A) serving as one component of admissions
criteria;
(B) evaluating a student's strengths and
weaknesses for remediation purposes; or
(C) identifying students experiencing academic
difficulties who require early remediation; or
(3) assess the effectiveness of the school of nursing
or educational program by providing:
(A) trend data on student performance;
(B) a comparison of student performance with
nationwide averages;
(C) feedback of student knowledge of program
content;
(D) data to monitor the effectiveness of specific
course, level, and program curriculum revisions;
(E) a measure of student mastery of content; or
(F) an evaluation of the effectiveness of
curriculum content for revision purposes.
(b) The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must provide that
a score on a standardized examination may not account for more than
10 percent of a course grade for a course in a school of nursing or
educational program.
(c) A school of nursing or educational program that
determines a student is in need of academic remediation on the basis
of a standardized examination may not require the student to attend
any course offered by the examination provider.
(d) Failure to comply with the rules adopted under
Subsection (a) may subject the school of nursing or educational
program to disciplinary action, including removal of the school's
or program's approval status, as determined by the board.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Board of Nursing shall adopt the rules
required by Section 301.1571, Occupations Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.