SRC-JRN C.S.S.B. 1480 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1480
By: Bivins
Education
4-3-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, statistics indicate that of the 350,000 students who took the
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills Test and failed, 90,000 were third and
fourth graders.  Some believe that early diagnosis of reading problems is
necessary to ensure that children are able to read at grade level. This
bill sets forth provisions and instruments to assist children in
developing reading skills. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1480 sets forth provisions and instruments to assist
children in developing reading skills. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 28A, Education Code, by adding Section 28.006,
as follows: 

Sec. 28.006. READING DIAGNOSIS.  Requires the commissioner of education
(commissioner) to develop recommendations for school districts for
administering reading instruments (instruments) to diagnose student
reading development and comprehension, and training educators in
administering and applying the results of the instruments.  Requires the
commissioner to adopt a list of instruments that a school district is
authorized to use to diagnose student reading development and
comprehension.  Authorizes district- and campuslevel committees
established under Chapter 11F to adopt a list of instruments in addition
to the instruments on the commissioner's list.  Requires each adopted
instrument to be based on scientific research concerning reading skills
development and reading comprehension. Requires a list of reading
instruments adopted under this subsection to provide for diagnosing the
reading development and comprehension of students participating in a
program under Chapter 29B.  Requires each school district to administer an
adopted instrument to children in kindergarten through second grade
levels.  Requires an instrument to be administered in accordance with the
commissioner's recommendations under Subsection (a)(1).  Requires the
superintendent of each school district to report to a school district's
board of trustees the results of the instruments.  Prohibits the results
of instruments from being used for purposes of appraisals and incentives
under Chapter 21 or accountability under Chapter 39.  Provides that this
section may be implemented only if state funds are appropriated for
administering the instruments.  Authorizes state funds to be used to pay
the cost of administering an instrument only if the instrument is on the
list adopted by the commissioner.  Requires the commissioner to adopt a
list of instruments and recommendations by August 1, 1998.  Requires each
school district to implement a reading diagnosis program in accordance
with this section, and recommendations adopted under this section,
beginning with the 1998-1999 school year.  Provides that this subsection
expires January 1, 1999. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 42C, Education Code, by adding Section 42.1521,
as follows: 

Sec. 42.1521.  READING DIAGNOSIS INSTRUMENTS.  Authorizes the commissioner
to  withhold from the total amounts of funds appropriated for allotments
under this section an amount sufficient to finance reading diagnosis
instruments as described in Section 28.006. Requires the commissioner to
reduce each district's tier one allotments in the same manner described
for a reduction in allotments under Section 42.253, in arriving at the
total amount of funds to be withheld under this section. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 2.

Redesignates SECTIONS 2 and 3, regarding the effective date and the
emergency clause, to SECTIONS 3 and 4.  Establishes a new SECTION 2,
regarding reading diagnosis instruments. 

SECTION 3.

Redesignates the effective date from SECTION 2.

SECTION 4.

Redesignates the emergency clause from SECTION 3.

Amendment 1. 

"Sec. 42.1521.  READING DIAGNOSIS INSTRUMENTS.  (a) The commissioner shall
withhold from the total amounts of funds appropriated for allotments under
this section an amount sufficient to finance reading diagnosis instruments
as described in Section 28.006. (b) In arriving at the total amount of
funds to be withheld under this section, the commissioner shall reduce
each district's tier one allotments in the same manner described for a
reduction in allotments under Section 42.253." 

Amendment 2.

"A list of reading instruments adopted under this subsection must provide
for diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of students
participating in a program under Subchapter B, Chapter 29."