78R3056 KKA-F

By:  Grusendorf                                                   H.B. No. 495



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administration by school districts of college 
preparation achievement assessment instruments to certain 
students.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 39.0261 to read as follows:
	Sec. 39.0261.  COLLEGE PREPARATION ACHIEVEMENT ASSESSMENTS.  
(a)  In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise authorized 
or required by this subchapter, a school district shall administer 
to students in grades 8, 10, and 12 an established, valid, and 
reliable system of nationally normed and curriculum-based 
educational planning and achievement assessment instruments with 
the following characteristics:
		(1)  an integrated series of standards and 
curriculum-based achievement assessment instruments, with the 
grade 12 assessment instrument currently accepted by this state's 
colleges and universities for use in determining admissions; and
		(2)  a common content continuum and score scale in the 
assessed areas of reading, English, mathematics, and science across 
the assessment instruments administered at each grade level.
	(b)  The agency shall:                                                  
		(1)  select and approve vendors of the specific 
assessment instruments administered under this section; and
		(2)  pay from its operating budget all costs associated 
with administration of the assessment instruments.
	(c)  The agency shall compile the results of any assessment 
instrument administered under this section and make the results 
available through the Public Education Information Management 
System (PEIMS).
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect June 1, 2005, and applies 
beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.