Bill Text: TX HB2824 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to the pilot program for assessing public school students in writing under an alternative method.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-09 - Placed on General State Calendar [HB2824 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2824-Comm_Sub.html

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86R16637 MP-F
By: VanDeaver H.B. No. 2824
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2824:
By: King of Hemphill C.S.H.B. No. 2824

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the pilot program for assessing public school students
in writing under an alternative method.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.02301, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b), (d), (f), (g), (h), and (j) and adding
Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
(b) During the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, [2016-2017]
and 2022-2023 [2017-2018] school years, the agency shall operate
[establish] a pilot program as provided by this section to
implement in designated school districts the writing assessment
method developed under Subsection (a).
(b-1) The commissioner shall establish a committee to
assist the agency in planning, evaluating, and overseeing the pilot
program under this section. The committee shall provide guidance
on:
(1) the program's timeline and scoring rubric;
(2) professional development for teachers on the
writing assessment method developed under Subsection (a); and
(3) a feedback and reflection process between teachers
and students to evaluate the results of writing assessments
administered under the program.
(b-2) The commissioner shall appoint the following members
to the committee established under Subsection (b-1):
(1) at least three administrators employed by a school
district that participates in the program;
(2) at least three educators, other than
administrators, employed by a school district that participates in
the program; and
(3) representatives of regional education service
centers, public institutions of higher education, and the agency.
(d) A school district designated to participate in the pilot
program under this section is not required to comply with the
writing assessment requirements under Sections 39.023(a) and (c),
and may not administer to students enrolled in the district the
writing assessment instruments required under those provisions,
during the period the district is participating in the pilot
program. The agency shall, to the greatest extent practicable,
apply cost savings that result from the exemption under this
subsection to offset the costs accrued under this section.
(f) The individuals responsible for scoring student writing
assessments under the pilot program shall be coordinated [jointly]
by the agency with joint participation of:
(1) the school district in which the student is
enrolled and that is participating in the pilot program;
(2) a public junior college or institution of higher
education that enters into an agreement with the participating
school district; and
(3) the regional education service center that serves
the participating district.
(g) The agency shall develop methods to determine the
validity of the scoring process [A random sampling of scored
student writing assessments, the size of which the agency shall
determine, shall be delivered to the agency].
(h) [Not later than September 1, 2016, the agency shall
prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction
over primary and secondary education a report covering the study of
the development of the writing assessment method under Subsection
(a).] Not later than September 1, 2021, and September 1, 2023 [of
each year in 2017 and 2018], the agency shall prepare and deliver to
the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative
standing committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and
secondary education a report that:
(1) evaluates the implementation and progress of the
pilot program under this section; and
(2) makes recommendations regarding the continuation
or expansion of the pilot program.
(j) This section expires September 1, 2023 [2019].
SECTION 2. 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, 2019.