78R2984 CAS-D


By:  Grusendorf                                                   H.B. No. 521



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state assessment of public school students in social 
studies in the fifth grade and 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 five, 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 Sections 39.023(a)(5) and (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)  a social studies assessment instrument to 
students in the fifth grade as provided by Section 39.023(a)(5), 
Education Code, as amended by this Act; and
			(B)  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, in evaluating the performance of school 
districts, campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools under 
Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Education Code, shall include the results 
of student performance on:
			(A)  the fifth grade social studies assessment 
instrument required by Section 39.023(a)(5), Education Code, as 
amended by this Act; and
			(B)  the eighth grade science assessment 
instrument required by Section 39.023(a)(6), Education Code, as 
amended by this Act;
		(3)  not later than the 2008-2009 school year, the 
State Board of Education shall administer assessment instruments 
under Section 39.023(b), Education Code, that correspond to:
			(A)  the fifth grade social studies assessment 
instrument required by Section 39.023(a)(5), Education Code, as 
amended by this Act; and
			(B)  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 instruments 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.