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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 103
76R9124 ESH-DBy: Bivins
Education
4/6/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


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 for the state 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.  C.S.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, C.S.S.B. 103 establishes provisions regarding state
assessments of public schools. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION
10. 

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) and (c), Education Code, to set forth
required assessment instruments designed to assess students' competencies
in certain subjects at various grade levels. 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.  Requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) to assist the agency in determining skills
necessary for enrolling in a higher education institution.  Exempts
students who perform at or above the level established by THECB on the
secondary exit-level assessment instruments from the requirements of
Section 51.306.  Deletes text regarding the required grade of certain test
levels.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Provides that this section takes effect only if S.B. 1,
Acts if the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, is enacted and becomes
law.     

(b)  Amends Section 39.023(e), Education Code, to require the agency to
release the question and answer keys to each assessment instrument
initially administered after the last time the instrument is administered
for that school year.  Establishes that the agency is not required to
release the keys to an assessment instrument administered in compliance
with Section 28.0211(b) before the fifth anniversary of the last date on
which the assessment instrument is administered.  Makes conforming changes 

SECTION 4.  (a)  Provides that this section takes effect only if S.B. 1,
Acts if the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, is not enacted or does
not becomes law.     
 
(b)  Amends Section 39.023(e), Education Code,  to make conforming changes.
 
SECTION 5.  Amends Section 39.025(a), Education Code, to delete text
regarding specific classes administering an assessment exam.  Makes
conforming changes. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 39.051(b), Education Code, to delete text
regarding the percentage of students taking end-of-course assessment
instruments.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 39.052(b), Education Code, to make conforming
changes 
.
SECTION 8.  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 9.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 10.  Requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules that set
forth the implementation of Section 39.023, Education Code.  Sets forth
requirements for the rules. 

SECTION 11.  Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to
conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of changes to Chapter 39B,
Education Code, as amended by this Act. Sets forth required conditions
included under, but not limited to, the study.  Requires the commissioner
to report the results of the study to certain individuals no later than
December 1, 2006. 

SECTION 12.  Repealer:  Section 39.023, Education Code (regarding adoption
and administration of instruments), effective August 31, 2009.    

SECTION 13.  Emergency clause.  

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 2.

Amends Sections 39.023(a) and (c), Education Code, to set forth the
administration of required assessment exams in the required grade.
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. Deletes proposed Subsection (e). 

SECTION 3.

Amends Section 39.023(e), Education Code, to establish that the agency is
not required to release the question and answer keys to assessment
instruments, if S.B. 1, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session,
1999, is enacted and becomes law. 
 
SECTION 4.  

Adds Subsections (a) and (b) to provide that this section takes effect only
if S.B. 1, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, is not
enacted and does not becomes law.  Amends Section 39.023(e), Education
Code, to make conforming changes.  Renumbers subsequent sections. 

SECTION 11.  

Adds section to require the commissioner to conduct a study to determine
the effectiveness of changes to Chapter 39B, Education Code, as amended by
this Act. 
 
SECTION 12.

Adds a repealer to 39.023, Education Code (regarding adoption and
administration of  instruments), effective August 31, 2009.  Renumbers
subsequent section.