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78R4137 SLO-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 1914
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain requirements relating to public school reading
and mathematics instruction and textbooks.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 21.044. EDUCATOR PREPARATION. (a) The board shall
propose rules establishing the training requirements a person must
accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter
an induction-year program. The board shall specify the minimum
academic qualifications required for a certificate.
(b) In this subsection, "essential components of reading
instruction," "reading," and "scientifically based reading
research" have the meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368), and its subsequent
amendments. The rules adopted by the board under Subsection (a)
must require that for a person to obtain a certificate under which
the person may teach at an elementary grade level or teach reading
at any grade level, the person must complete training in reading
instruction, including training in:
(1) the essential components of reading instruction;
(2) reading;
(3) spelling;
(4) grammar, punctuation, and capitalization skills;
(5) the diagnosis of reading deficiencies;
(6) strategies for early intervention in reading
deficiencies;
(7) scientifically based reading research on the
manner in which children learn to read;
(8) scientifically based reading research on the
manner in which proficient readers read;
(9) the structure of the English language;
(10) the relationships among reading, writing, and
spelling;
(11) planning and delivering appropriate reading
instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and
(12) independent student reading of high quality books
and the relationship of that reading to improved reading
performance.
SECTION 2. Section 21.045, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a-1) In this subsection, "essential components of reading
instruction," "reading," and "scientifically based reading
research" have the meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368), and its subsequent
amendments. In addition to the standards established by the board
under Subsection (a), each educator preparation program must
require that a candidate for a certificate to teach at an elementary
grade level or to teach reading at any grade level must complete
training in reading instruction, including training in:
(1) the essential components of reading instruction;
(2) reading;
(3) spelling;
(4) grammar, punctuation, and capitalization skills;
(5) the diagnosis of reading deficiencies;
(6) strategies for early intervention in reading
deficiencies;
(7) scientifically based reading research on the
manner in which children learn to read;
(8) scientifically based reading research on the
manner in which proficient readers read;
(9) the structure of the English language;
(10) the relationships among reading, writing, and
spelling;
(11) planning and delivering appropriate reading
instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and
(12) independent student reading of high quality books
and the relationship of that reading to improved reading
performance.
(c) The board shall propose rules establishing performance
standards for the Accountability System for Educator Preparation
for accrediting educator preparation programs. At a minimum,
performance standards must be based on Subsections [Subsection] (a)
and (a-1). The board shall propose rules for the sanction of
educator preparation programs and shall annually review the
accreditation status of each educator preparation program.
SECTION 3. Section 21.048(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) In this subsection, "essential components of reading
instruction," "reading," and "scientifically based reading
research" have the meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368), and its subsequent
amendments. The board shall propose rules prescribing
comprehensive examinations for each class of certificate issued by
the board. The rules must provide that the examination for a
certificate under which a person may teach at an elementary grade
level or teach reading at any grade level must assess mastery of
reading instruction, including:
(1) the essential components of reading instruction;
(2) reading;
(3) spelling;
(4) grammar, punctuation, and capitalization skills;
(5) the diagnosis of reading deficiencies;
(6) strategies for early intervention in reading
deficiencies;
(7) scientifically based reading research on the
manner in which children learn to read;
(8) scientifically based reading research on the
manner in which proficient readers read;
(9) the structure of the English language;
(10) the relationships among reading, writing, and
spelling;
(11) planning and delivering appropriate reading
instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and
(12) independent student reading of high quality books
and the relationship of that reading to improved reading
performance.
SECTION 4. Section 21.451(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The staff development provided by a school district must
be conducted in accordance with minimum standards developed by the
commissioner for program planning, preparation, and improvement.
The staff development:
(1) must include training in:
(A) technology;
(B) conflict resolution; and
(C) discipline strategies, including classroom
management, district discipline policies, and the student code of
conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37;
(2) must include training that:
(A) relates to instruction of students with
disabilities; and
(B) is designed for educators who work primarily
outside of the area of special education; [and]
(3) must include, for teachers who teach reading at
any grade level or special education, at least five days of training
in the areas described by Section 21.044(b); and
(4) may include instruction as to what is permissible
under law, including opinions of the United States Supreme Court,
in regard to prayers in public school.
SECTION 5. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
(b-1) The essential knowledge and skills of English
language arts must include reading. The reading curriculum, based
on scientifically based reading research, must be grade specific
and increase in depth and complexity from one school year to the
next, focus on core knowledge, and include essential components of
reading instruction and instruction to promote reading. In this
subsection, "essential components of reading instruction,"
"reading," and "scientifically based reading research" have the
meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(20 U.S.C. Section 6368), and its subsequent amendments.
(b-2) The essential knowledge and skills for mathematics
for grades one through eight, based on scientific research, must be
grade specific and increase in depth and complexity from one school
year to the next, focus on core knowledge, and include basic
computational knowledge and skills.
SECTION 6. Section 31.023, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to
read as follows:
(a) For each subject and grade level, the State Board of
Education shall adopt two lists of textbooks. The conforming list
includes each textbook submitted for the subject and grade level
that meets applicable physical specifications adopted by the State
Board of Education, [and] contains material covering each element
of the essential knowledge and skills of the subject and grade level
as determined by the State Board of Education under Section 28.002
presented in an educationally effective manner as proven by
scientifically based research, and is adopted under Section 31.024.
The nonconforming list includes each textbook submitted for the
subject and grade level that:
(1) meets applicable physical specifications adopted
by the State Board of Education;
(2) contains material covering at least half, but not
all, of the elements of the essential knowledge and skills of the
subject and grade level presented in an educationally effective
manner as proven by scientifically based research; and
(3) is adopted under Section 31.024.
(a-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), to
be placed on the conforming or nonconforming list, a reading
textbook must include essential components of reading instruction
and instruction to promote reading, as defined by Section 1208, No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368), and its
subsequent amendments, and reflect an increase in depth and
complexity from one school year to the next.
(a-2) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), to
be placed on the conforming or nonconforming list, a mathematics
textbook for grade one or above through grade eight must contain
instruction in basic computational skills that increases in depth
and complexity from one school year to the next.
SECTION 7. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 31.031 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.031. TEACHER EDITIONS OF READING TEXTBOOKS. Each
teacher edition of a reading textbook must address:
(1) the structure of the English language;
(2) the relationships among reading, writing, and
spelling;
(3) planning and delivering appropriate reading
instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and
(4) independent student reading of high quality books
and the relationship of that reading to improved reading
performance.
SECTION 8. Sections 39.023(a) and (g), Education Code, are
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 pre-reading, 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 and 10; and
(7) pre-reading, including phoneme awareness, letter
sound knowledge, and letter knowledge, in kindergarten.
(g) The State Board of Education may adopt one appropriate,
nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument in
reading and mathematics to be administered to a selected sample of
students in the spring. The board shall adopt one appropriate,
nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument in
basic reading and reading comprehension to be administered to all
nonexempt students in grade three. Each [If adopted, a]
norm-referenced assessment instrument must be a secured test. The
state may pay the costs of purchasing and scoring the optional
norm-referenced [adopted] assessment instrument and of
distributing the results of that [the adopted] instrument to the
school districts. The state shall pay the costs of purchasing and
scoring the third-grade reading assessment instrument and of
distributing the results of that instrument to the school
districts. A district [that administers the norm-referenced test
adopted under this subsection] shall report the results of each
norm-referenced assessment instrument administered by the district
under this subsection to the agency in a manner prescribed by the
commissioner.
SECTION 9. Notwithstanding the textbook review and adoption
requirements under Section 31.022, Education Code, or the textbook
review and adoption cycle the State Board of Education adopts under
that section, the board shall review and adopt reading textbooks
that satisfy requirements under Section 31.023, Education Code, as
amended by this Act, and accompanying teacher edition reading
textbooks that satisfy requirements under Section 31.031,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable.
SECTION 10. Sections 1-8 of this Act apply beginning with
the 2003-2004 school year.
SECTION 11. This Act takes effect immediately if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.