SRC-JJJ S.B. 103 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 103
76R3223 ESH-DBy: Bivins
Education
2/23/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, students must pass the 10th grade exit-level Texas Assessment of
Academic Skills (TAAS) covering various subjects in order to graduate from
high school.  TAAS measures a student's progress toward certain academic
goals of the state.  There have been requests from businesses and
institutions of higher education to administer an exit-level exam with a
broader content, which measures the core academic skills needed to succeed
in higher education and the workplace.  S.B. 103 would require assessment
exams to be given with more frequency, and would require exams to be taken
in the 11th grade and to include social studies and science. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 103 establishes provisions regarding state assessments of
public schools. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION
8. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 28.025(a), Education Code, to authorize a
student to graduate and receive a diploma only if the student complies with
Section 39.025(a) or  the student successfully completes an individualized
education program.  Deletes text regarding the exit level assessment. Makes
a conforming change. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 39.023(a), (c), (e), Education Code, to require
students to be assessed in reading and mathematics annually in grades three
through 10; writing in grades four, six, eight, and 10; and science in
grades five, seven, and 10.  Requires the Texas Education Agency (agency)
to adopt secondary exit-level assessments to be administered to students in
grade 11 to assess social studies and science.  Requires assessment
instruments to assess a student's mastery of minimum skills necessary for
high school graduation and readiness to enroll in an institution of higher
education or enter the workforce.  Requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) to assist the agency in determining skills
necessary for enrolling in a higher education institution or the workforce.
Exempts students who perform at or above the minimum level established by
THECB from the requirements of Section 51.306.  Deletes text regarding the
required grade of certain test levels.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 39.025(a), Education Code, to delete text
regarding specific classes administering an assessment exam.  Makes
conforming changes. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 39.051(b), Education Code, to delete text
regarding the percentage of students taking assessment end-of-course
instruments.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 39.052(b), Education Code, to makes conforming
changes 
.
SECTION 6.  Repealers: Section 39.023(d) (regarding allowable modifications
of assessment exams for special education students and exemption of exam
for students) and Section 39.023(j) (regarding expiration date of
subsection), Education Code. 

 SECTION 7.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 8.  Requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules that set
forth the implementation of Section 39.023, Education Code. 

SECTION 9.  Emergency clause.