Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2236 Compare Versions

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1	1	88R6731 DIO-F
2	2	By: LaMantia S.B. No. 2236
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the list of reading instruments adopted and maintained
8	8	by the commissioner of education.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 28.006, Education Code, is amended by
11	11	amending Subsections (b), (c), (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) and adding
12	12	Subsections (b-2), (b-3), (b-4), (f-1), and (n) to read as follows:
13	13	(b) The commissioner shall adopt a comprehensive list of
14	14	reading instruments that a school district may use to diagnose
15	15	[student] reading development and comprehension for students who
16	16	are enrolled in kindergarten or in the first, second, or seventh
17	17	grade. For use in diagnosing the reading development and
18	18	comprehension of kindergarten students, the commissioner shall
19	19	adopt [a] multidimensional assessment tools [tool] that include
20	20	[includes a] reading instruments that test [instrument and tests]
21	21	at least three developmental skills, including literacy. A
22	22	multidimensional assessment tool administered as provided by this
23	23	subsection is considered to be a reading instrument for purposes of
24	24	this section. A school district [district-level committee
25	25	established under Subchapter F, Chapter 11,] may use other [adopt a
26	26	list of] reading instruments, [for use in the district in a grade
27	27	level other than kindergarten] in addition to the reading
28	28	instruments included on the commissioner's list. Each reading
29	29	instrument adopted by the commissioner [or a district-level
30	30	committee] must be based on scientific research concerning reading
31	31	skills development and reading comprehension. A list of reading
32	32	instruments adopted under this subsection must provide for
33	33	diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of students
34	34	participating in a program under Subchapter B, Chapter 29.
35	35	(b-2) The commissioner shall include on the list any reading
36	36	instrument that is:
37	37	(1) based on scientific research concerning reading
38	38	skills development and reading comprehension; and
39	39	(2) submitted for inclusion on the list under
40	40	Subsection (b-4).
41	41	(b-3) The commissioner shall annually update the list of
42	42	reading instruments, including multidimensional assessment tools
43	43	authorized under this section.
44	44	(b-4) The commissioner shall provide an online resource
45	45	prominently displayed on the agency's Internet website that
46	46	provides information regarding the list of reading instruments
47	47	maintained by the commissioner under this section and the annual
48	48	process for applying for inclusion on the list, as provided by
49	49	agency rule adopted under Subsection (n).
50	50	(c) Each school district shall administer, at the first and
51	51	second grade levels, a reading instrument that is based on
52	52	scientific research concerning reading skills development and
53	53	reading comprehension [on the list adopted by the commissioner or
54	54	by the district-level committee]. The district shall administer
55	55	the reading instrument in accordance with the commissioner's
56	56	recommendations under Subsection (a)(1).
57	57	(c-1) Each school district shall administer at the
58	58	beginning of the seventh grade a reading instrument [adopted by the
59	59	commissioner] to each student whose performance on the assessment
60	60	instrument in reading administered under Section 39.023(a) to the
61	61	student in grade six did not demonstrate reading proficiency, as
62	62	determined by the commissioner. The district shall administer the
63	63	reading instrument in accordance with the commissioner's
64	64	recommendations under Subsection (a)(1).
65	65	(c-2) Each school district shall administer at the
66	66	kindergarten level a reading instrument [adopted by the
67	67	commissioner under Subsection (b) or approved by the commissioner
68	68	under Subsection (b-1)]. The district shall administer the reading
69	69	instrument in accordance with the commissioner's recommendations
70	70	under Subsection (a)(1).
71	71	(c-3) The commissioner by rule shall determine the
72	72	performance on a [the] reading instrument adopted under Subsection
73	73	(b) that indicates kindergarten readiness.
74	74	(f-1) A reading instrument made available under Subsection
75	75	(f) may not require the purchase of an additional service or
76	76	functionality to have full and complete access to the capabilities
77	77	of the reading instrument.
78	78	(n) The agency by rule shall provide a process for annual
79	79	application for inclusion of a reading instrument on the
80	80	commissioner's list of reading instruments under this section.
81	81	SECTION 2. Section 28.006(b-1), Education Code, is
82	82	repealed.
83	83	SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
84	84	school year.
85	85	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
86	86	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
87	87	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
88	88	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
89	89	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.