Amend HB 2532 by adding the following appropriately numbered 
SECTIONS and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill 
accordingly:
	SECTION ___.  Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 37.0082 to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.0082.  ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC GROWTH OF STUDENTS IN 
DISCIPLINARY ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a)  To assess a 
student's academic growth during placement in a disciplinary 
alternative education program, a school district shall administer 
to a student placed in a program for a period of 90 school days or 
longer an assessment instrument approved by the commissioner for 
that purpose.  The instrument shall be administered:
		(1)  initially on placement of the student in the 
program; and       
		(2)  subsequently on the date of the student's 
departure from the program, or as near that date as possible.
	(b)  The assessment instrument required by this section:                
		(1)  must be designed to assess at least a student's 
basic skills in reading and mathematics;
		(2)  may be:                                                           
			(A)  comparable to any assessment instrument 
generally administered to students placed in juvenile justice 
alternative education programs for a similar purpose; or
			(B)  based on an appropriate alternative 
assessment instrument developed by the agency to measure student 
academic growth; and
		(3)  is in addition to the assessment instruments 
required to be administered under Chapter 39.
	(c)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to 
implement this section.
	SECTION ___.  (a)  The Texas Education Agency shall explore 
alternative methods of evaluating the effectiveness of 
disciplinary alternative education programs.  The alternative 
methods to be explored must include a method that includes, in 
addition to the indicator required under current law that is based 
on student performance on assessment instruments required under 
Sections 39.023(a) and (c), Education Code, indicators relating to 
student academic growth, course completion, and behavior 
improvement.
	(b)  Not later than November 1, 2008, the Texas Education 
Agency shall submit a report of its conclusions and recommendations 
resulting from the action required by Subsection (a) of this 
section to the presiding officers of the standing committees of the 
senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over 
the public school system or the commitment and rehabilitation of 
youths.