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.