Floor Packet Page No. 211
      Amend CSSB 4 by adding the following SECTIONS appropriately
numbered and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill
accordingly:
      SECTION _____. Section 28.002(c), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
      (c) The State Board of Education, with the direct
participation of educators, parents, business and industry
representatives, and employers shall by rule identify the essential
knowledge and skills of each subject of the foundation curriculum
that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be
used in evaluating textbooks under Chapter 31 and addressed on the
assessment instruments required under Subchapter B, Chapter 39.
Reading must be included among the essential knowledge and skills
of English language arts for grades one through eight.  The reading
curriculum, based on scientific research, must be grade specific
and increase in depth and complexity from one school year to the
next, focus on core knowledge, and include phonemic awareness and
systematic, explicit phonics and spelling knowledge and skills. As
a condition of accreditation, the board shall require each district
to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at
appropriate grade levels.
      SECTION _____. Section 31.023(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
      (a) For each subject and grade level, the State Board of
Education shall adopt two lists of textbooks.  The conforming list
includes each textbook submitted for the subject and grade level
that meets applicable physical specifications adopted by the State
Board of Education, <and> contains material covering each element
of the essential knowledge and skills of the subject and grade
level as determined by the State Board of Education under Section
28.002 presented in an educationally effective manner as proven by
scientific research, and is adopted under Section 31.024.  To be
placed on the conforming list, a reading textbook for grade one or
above through grade eight must address phonemic awareness and must
contain systematic, explicit phonics and spelling instruction that
increases in depth and complexity from one school year to the next.
The nonconforming list includes each textbook submitted for the
subject and grade level that:
            (1) meets applicable physical specifications adopted by
the State Board of Education;
            (2) contains material covering at least half, but not
all, of the elements of the essential knowledge and skills of the
subject and grade level presented in an educationally effective
manner as proven by scientific research; <and>
            (3) is adopted under Section 31.024; and
            (4) contains systematic, explicit phonics and spelling
instruction that increases in depth and complexity from one school
year to the next, in the case of a reading textbook for grade one
or above through grade eight.
      SECTION _____. Notwithstanding the textbook review and
adoption requirements under Section 31.022, Eduation Code, or the
textbook review and adoption cycle the State Board of Education
adopts under that section, the board shall review and adopt reading
textbooks for grades one through eight that satisfy requirements
under Section 31.023, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as
soon as practicable.
      SECTION _____. Sections _____ and _____ above apply beginning
with the 1999-2000 school year.