84R1874 GCB-D
 
  By: González H.B. No. 774
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to eliminating certain state-required assessment
  instruments administered to public school students in certain
  grades.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
  until on or before September 1, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in reading, [writing,] mathematics,
  [social studies,] and science.  Except as provided by Subsection
  (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection
  (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:
               (1)  mathematics, annually in grades three through
  seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid
  of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
               (2)  reading, annually in grades three through eight;
               (3)  [writing, including spelling and grammar, in
  grades four and seven;
               [(4)  social studies, in grade eight;
               [(5)] science, in grades five and eight; and
               (4) [(6)]  any other subject and grade required by
  federal law.
         SECTION 2.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
  on or before September 1, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in reading, [writing,] mathematics,
  [social studies,] and science.  Except as provided by Subsection
  (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection
  (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:
               (1)  mathematics, in grades three and five without the
  aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid of technology on
  any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
               (2)  reading, in grades three, five, and eight; and
               (3)  [writing, including spelling and grammar, in
  grades four and seven;
               [(4)  social studies, in grade eight; and
               [(5)]  science, in grades five and eight.
         SECTION 3.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
  September 1, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in reading, [writing,] mathematics,
  [social studies,] and science.  Except as provided by Subsection
  (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection
  (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:
               (1)  mathematics, annually in grades three through
  seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid
  of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
               (2)  reading, annually in grades three through eight;
               (3)  [writing, including spelling and grammar, in
  grades four and seven;
               [(4)  social studies, in grade eight;
               [(5)]  science, in grades five and eight; and
               (4) [(6)]  any other subject and grade required by
  federal law.
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2015.