SRC-MSY, TJG S.B. 98 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 98
78R1360 SLO-DBy: Barrientos
Education
2/7/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, the State-Developed Alternate Assessment (SDAA)
test--a state mandated test administered to students with disabilities--is
not required to be given in Spanish.  As proposed, S.B. 98 requires the
creation of a Spanish version to be administered to Spanish speaking
students who have limited English proficiency. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education
in SECTION 1 (Section 39.023, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 39.023, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(o), as follows: 

(o) Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt rules for the
administration of the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (b)
in Spanish to students who are of limited English proficiency, whose
primary language is Spanish, and who are not otherwise exempt from the
administration of an assessment instrument under Section 39.027(a)(3) or
(4). Authorizes each student of limited English proficiency whose
otherwise primary language is Spanish and who would otherwise be assessed
using an English language assessment instrument adopted under Section (b)
to be assessed using an assessment instrument in Spanish under this
subsection.  Requires the language proficiency assessment committee to
determine which students are administered assessment instruments in
Spanish under this subsection. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the SBOE, beginning with the 2003-2004 school year,
to administer assessment instruments in accordance with rules adopted
under Section 39.023(o), Education Code, as added by this bill. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.