Bill Text: TX HB959 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to limiting certain state-required assessment instruments administered to public school students in certain grades to assessments required by federal law.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-02 - Referred to Public Education [HB959 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB959-Introduced.html

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84R3480 GCB-F
By: Menéndez H.B. No. 959

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limiting certain state-required assessment instruments
administered to public school students in certain grades to
assessments required by federal law.
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 subjects for which assessment is
required by federal law [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
[(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 subjects for which assessment is
required by federal law [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 any subject
and grade required by federal law[:
[(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;
[(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 subjects for which assessment is
required by federal law [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
[(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.