78R2394 SLO-D

By:  Smith of Tarrant                                             H.B. No. 304



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state assessment of public school students in science 
in the eighth grade.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate 
criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess 
essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing, mathematics, 
social studies, and science.  All students, except students 
assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 
39.027, shall be assessed in:
		(1)  mathematics, annually in grades three through 
seven without the aid of technology and in grades eight through 11 
with the aid of technology on any assessment instruments that 
include algebra;
		(2)  reading, annually in grades three through nine;                          
		(3)  writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades 
four and seven;     
		(4)  English language arts, in grade 10;                                      
		(5)  social studies, in grades eight and 10; and                              
		(6)  science, in grades five, eight, and 10.                           
	SECTION 2.  The commissioner of education shall adopt rules 
for the implementation of Section 39.023(a)(6), Education Code, as 
amended by this Act.  The commissioner's rules must provide that:
		(1)  except as provided by Subdivision (3) of this 
section, not later than the 2006-2007 school year, the State Board 
of Education shall administer a science assessment instrument to 
students in the eighth grade as provided by Section 39.023(a)(6), 
Education Code, as amended by this Act;
		(2)  except as provided by Subdivision (4) of this 
section, not later than the 2008-2009 school year, the Texas 
Education Agency shall include the results of student performance 
on the eighth grade science assessment instrument required by 
Section 39.023(a)(6), Education Code, as amended by this Act, in 
evaluating the performance of school districts, campuses, and 
open-enrollment charter schools under Subchapter D, Chapter 39, 
Education Code;
		(3)  not later than the 2008-2009 school year, the 
State Board of Education shall administer an assessment instrument 
under Section 39.023(b), Education Code, that corresponds to the 
eighth grade science assessment instrument required by Section 
39.023(a)(6), Education Code, as amended by this Act; and
		(4)  not later than the 2010-2011 school year, the 
Texas Education Agency shall include the results of student 
performance on the assessment instrument described by Subdivision 
(3) of this section in evaluating the performance of school 
districts, campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools under 
Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Education Code.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.