HBA-EVB, LCA H.B. 1965 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1965
By: Howard
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, reading is not included among the list of essential knowledge
and skills constituting the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002 of
the Education Code. H.B. 1965 includes reading in the required curriculum
for grades one through eight, and establishes further requirements for
placing a text on either a conforming or nonconforming list. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis this bill does not
expressly delegate any additional  rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 28.002(c), Education Code,  to provide that
reading must be included among the essential knowledge and skills for
grades one through eight, that the reading curriculum must increase in
depth and complexity for each successive grade, and that it must focus on
core knowledge and include phonemic awareness and systematic, explicit
phonics and spelling knowledge and skills. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 31.023(a), Education Code, to provide that a
textbook placed on the conforming list must contain material presented in
an educationally effective manner as proven by scientific research.
Provides that a reading textbook for grades one through eight must address
phonemic awareness and phonics and spelling instruction that increases in
depth and complexity from one school year to the next. Provides that a
textbook placed on the nonconforming list must contain material presented
in an educationally effective manner as proven by scientific research.
Provides that a reading textbook for grades one through eight placed on the
nonconforming list must contain systematic phonics and spelling
instruction. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that Section 31.023 (Textbook Lists), Education Code,
as amended by this Act, supercedes requirements for textbook review and
adoption under Section 31.022 (Textbook Review and Adoption), Education
Code.  Requires the State Board of Education (board) to review and adopt
reading textbooks as provided under Section 31.023, Education Code, as
amended by this Act, as soon as practicable. 

SECTION 4.  Provides that SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this Act apply with the
beginning of the 19992000 school year. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.