Bill Text: TX HB3906 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Relating to the assessment of public school students, including the development and administration of assessment instruments, and technology permitted for use by students.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - See remarks for effective date [HB3906 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB3906-Engrossed.html

---

86R27798 SOS-F
By: Huberty H.B. No. 3906

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of assessment instruments used to
assess the performance of public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a-12), (a-13), (b-1), (c), and (c-3) and
adding Subsections (a-14) and (c-7) to read as follows:
(a-12) An assessment instrument adopted or developed under
Subsection (a) must be designed so that:
(1) if administered to students in grades three
through five, 85 percent of students will be able to complete all
[the] assessment instruments for that grade [instrument] within an
aggregate period equal to the number of assessment instruments for
that grade multiplied by 120 minutes; and
(2) if administered to students in grades six through
eight, 85 percent of students will be able to complete all [the]
assessment instruments for that grade [instrument] within an
aggregate period equal to the number of assessment instruments for
that grade multiplied by 180 minutes.
(a-13) The amount of time allowed for administration of an
assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) may
not exceed eight hours, and the administration may occur in
multiple parts over more than [on only] one day.
(a-14) Subsections (a-12) and (a-13) do not apply to a
classroom portfolio method used to assess writing performance.
(b-1) The agency, in conjunction with appropriate
interested persons, shall redevelop assessment instruments adopted
or developed under Subsection (b) for administration to
significantly cognitively disabled students in a manner consistent
with federal law. An assessment instrument under this subsection
may not require a teacher to prepare tasks or materials for a
student who will be administered such an assessment instrument. A
classroom portfolio method used to assess writing performance may
require a teacher to prepare tasks and materials [Assessment
instruments adopted or developed under this subsection shall be
administered not later than the 2014-2015 school year].
(c) The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, biology,
English I, English II, and United States history. The Algebra I
end-of-course assessment instrument must be administered with the
aid of technology. The English I and English II end-of-course
assessment instruments must each assess essential knowledge and
skills in both reading and writing [in the same assessment
instrument] and must provide a single score. A school district
shall comply with State Board of Education rules regarding
administration of the assessment instruments listed in this
subsection. If a student is in a special education program under
Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review, and
dismissal committee shall determine whether any allowable
modification is necessary in administering to the student an
assessment instrument required under this subsection. The State
Board of Education shall administer the assessment instruments. An
end-of-course assessment instrument may be administered in
multiple parts over more than one day [The State Board of Education
shall adopt a schedule for the administration of end-of-course
assessment instruments that complies with the requirements of
Subsection (c-3)].
(c-3) Except as provided by Subsection (c-7), in [In]
adopting a schedule for the administration of assessment
instruments under this section, the State Board of Education shall
require:
(1) assessment instruments administered under
Subsection (a) to be administered on a schedule so that the first
assessment instrument is administered at least two weeks later than
the date on which the first assessment instrument was administered
under Subsection (a) during the 2006-2007 school year; and
(2) the spring administration of end-of-course
assessment instruments under Subsection (c) to occur in each school
district not earlier than the first full week in May, except that
the spring administration of the end-of-course assessment
instruments in English I and English II must be permitted to occur
at an earlier date.
(c-7) Subsection (c-3) does not apply to a classroom
portfolio method used to assess writing performance if student
performance under that method is less than 50 percent of a student's
overall assessed performance in writing.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt rules
necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
school year.
SECTION 4. 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.