Bill Text: TX SB1453 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the use of calculator applications in place of graphing calculators in public schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-21 - Placed on General State Calendar [SB1453 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1453-Comm_Sub.html
 
 
  By: Taylor  S.B. No. 1453
         (In the Senate - Filed March 4, 2019; March 14, 2019, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 16, 2019,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; April 16, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1453 By:  Taylor
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the use of calculator applications in place of graphing
  calculators in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.904 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.904.  USE OF CALCULATOR APPLICATION IN PLACE OF
  GRAPHING CALCULATOR. (a)  A school district shall permit a student
  enrolled in a course that requires the student to use a graphing
  calculator to use a calculator application on a computing device,
  including a personal, laptop, or tablet computer, that provides the
  same functionality, unless the district makes available to the
  student a graphing calculator at no cost to the student.
         (b)  A school district may adopt policies related to student
  use of a computing device under this section.
         (c)  To the extent this section conflicts with Section
  37.082, this section prevails.
         (d)  The agency shall conduct an evaluation of best practices
  for the use of a calculator application on a computing device by a
  student during an assessment instrument administered under Section
  39.023.  On completion of the evaluation the agency shall adopt
  rules establishing a policy for the permitted use of a calculator
  application on a computing device.  The rules must specify the types
  of calculator applications and computing devices students are
  authorized to use and the circumstances under which each calculator
  application and computing device may be used.  The agency shall post
  to the agency's Internet website and communicate to each school
  district the policy adopted under this subsection and a list of
  approved calculator applications and computing devices, including
  information relating to the cost and functionality of each listed
  calculator application and computing device.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2020, the Texas
  Education Agency shall adopt rules establishing a policy for the
  use of a calculator application on a computing device as required by
  Section 25.904(d), Education Code, as added 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.
 
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