By West H.B. No. 227
76R2068 KEL-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to abolishing the Texas Academic Skills Program.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Sections 51.306 and 51.3061, Education Code, are
1-5 repealed.
1-6 SECTION 2. Sections 39.051(b) and (d), Education Code, are
1-7 amended to read as follows:
1-8 (b) Performance on the indicators adopted under this section
1-9 shall be compared to state-established standards. The degree of
1-10 change from one school year to the next in performance on each
1-11 indicator adopted under this section shall also be considered. The
1-12 indicators must be based on information that is disaggregated with
1-13 respect to race, ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status and must
1-14 include:
1-15 (1) the results of assessment instruments required
1-16 under Sections 39.023(a) and (c), aggregated by grade level and
1-17 subject area;
1-18 (2) dropout rates;
1-19 (3) student attendance rates;
1-20 (4) [the percentage of graduating students who attain
1-21 scores on the secondary exit-level assessment instruments required
1-22 under Subchapter B that are equivalent to a passing score on the
1-23 test instrument required under Section 51.306;]
1-24 [(5)] the percentage of graduating students who meet
2-1 the course requirements established for the recommended high school
2-2 program by State Board of Education rule;
2-3 (5) [(6)] the results of the Scholastic Assessment
2-4 Test (SAT) and the American College Test;
2-5 (6) [(7)] the percentage of students taking
2-6 end-of-course assessment instruments adopted under Section
2-7 39.023(d);
2-8 (7) [(8)] the percentage of students exempted, by
2-9 exemption category, from the assessment program generally
2-10 applicable under this subchapter; and
2-11 (8) [(9)] any other indicator the State Board of
2-12 Education adopts.
2-13 (d) Annually, the commissioner shall define exemplary,
2-14 recognized, and unacceptable performance for each academic
2-15 excellence indicator included under Subsections (b)(1) through (5)
2-16 [(6)] and shall project the standards for each of those levels of
2-17 performance for succeeding years.
2-18 SECTION 3. Sections 51.930(e) and (f), Education Code, are
2-19 amended to read as follows:
2-20 (e) [A student participating in the program from another
2-21 state shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 51.306 of this
2-22 code unless that student becomes a degree-seeking undergraduate
2-23 student at a Texas public institution of higher education.]
2-24 [(f)] A student may not participate in the program for more
2-25 than one year.
2-26 SECTION 4. Section 130.0035(b), Education Code, is amended
2-27 to read as follows:
3-1 (b) The report must include the following information for
3-2 the junior college district for the academic year covered by the
3-3 report:
3-4 (1) the rate at which students completed courses
3-5 attempted;
3-6 (2) the number and types of degrees and certificates
3-7 awarded;
3-8 (3) the percentage of graduates who passed licensing
3-9 exams related to the degree or certificate awarded, to the extent
3-10 the information can be determined;
3-11 (4) the number of students or graduates who transfer
3-12 to or are admitted to a public university;
3-13 (5) [the passing rates for students required to be
3-14 tested under Section 51.306;]
3-15 [(6)] the percentage of students enrolled who are
3-16 academically disadvantaged;
3-17 (6) [(7)] the percentage of students enrolled who are
3-18 economically disadvantaged;
3-19 (7) [(8)] the racial and ethnic composition of the
3-20 district's student body; and
3-21 (8) [(9)] the percentage of student contact hours
3-22 taught by full-time faculty.
3-23 SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act takes effect
3-24 beginning with the 1999 fall semester.
3-25 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
3-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-4 passage, and it is so enacted.