By Howard H.B. No. 1965
76R5059 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the reading curriculum used in public schools and to
1-3 reading textbooks for public school students.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 28.002(c), Education Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (c) The State Board of Education, with the direct
1-8 participation of educators, parents, business and industry
1-9 representatives, and employers shall by rule identify the essential
1-10 knowledge and skills of each subject of the foundation curriculum
1-11 that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be
1-12 used in evaluating textbooks under Chapter 31 and addressed on the
1-13 assessment instruments required under Subchapter B, Chapter 39.
1-14 Reading must be included among the essential knowledge and skills
1-15 of English language arts for grades one through eight. The reading
1-16 curriculum, based on scientific research, must be grade specific
1-17 and increase in depth and complexity from one school year to the
1-18 next, focus on core knowledge, and include phonemic awareness and
1-19 systematic, explicit phonics and spelling knowledge and skills. As
1-20 a condition of accreditation, the board shall require each district
1-21 to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at
1-22 appropriate grade levels.
1-23 SECTION 2. Section 31.023(a), Education Code, is amended to
1-24 read as follows:
2-1 (a) For each subject and grade level, the State Board of
2-2 Education shall adopt two lists of textbooks. The conforming list
2-3 includes each textbook submitted for the subject and grade level
2-4 that meets applicable physical specifications adopted by the State
2-5 Board of Education, [and] contains material covering each element
2-6 of the essential knowledge and skills of the subject and grade
2-7 level as determined by the State Board of Education under Section
2-8 28.002 presented in an educationally effective manner as proven by
2-9 scientific research, and is adopted under Section 31.024. To be
2-10 placed on the conforming list, a reading textbook for grade one or
2-11 above through grade eight must address phonemic awareness and must
2-12 contain systematic, explicit phonics and spelling instruction that
2-13 increases in depth and complexity from one school year to the next.
2-14 The nonconforming list includes each textbook submitted for the
2-15 subject and grade level that:
2-16 (1) meets applicable physical specifications adopted
2-17 by the State Board of Education;
2-18 (2) contains material covering at least half, but not
2-19 all, of the elements of the essential knowledge and skills of the
2-20 subject and grade level presented in an educationally effective
2-21 manner as proven by scientific research; [and]
2-22 (3) is adopted under Section 31.024; and
2-23 (4) contains systematic, explicit phonics and spelling
2-24 instruction that increases in depth and complexity from one school
2-25 year to the next, in the case of a reading textbook for grade one
2-26 or above through grade eight.
2-27 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding the textbook review and adoption
3-1 requirements under Section 31.022, Education Code, or the textbook
3-2 review and adoption cycle the State Board of Education adopts under
3-3 that section, the board shall review and adopt reading textbooks
3-4 for grades one through eight that satisfy requirements under
3-5 Section 31.023, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as
3-6 practicable.
3-7 SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this Act apply beginning with
3-8 the 1999-2000 school year.
3-9 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-15 passage, and it is so enacted.