BILL ANALYSIS
By: Madden
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Pre and post placement assessment tests are helpful in assessing student growth. At Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs, students who are to remain there for at least 90 days are given an assessment test upon their entrance and departure from the program in order to monitor their educational achievement while in the program. However, there is no similar program for Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs.
This legislation would require a similar practice for students remaining for a period of 90 school days or longer in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, in order to assess their academic growth.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Commissioner of Education (commissioner) in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
The bill provides that, 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 initially on placement of the student in the program, and subsequently on the date of the student's departure from the program, or as near that date as possible.
The assessment instrument must be designed to assess at least a student's basic skills in reading and mathematics, may be comparable to any assessment instrument generally administered to students placed in juvenile justice alternative education programs for a similar purpose; or based on an appropriate alternative assessment instrument developed by the Texas Education Agency (agency) to measure student academic growth; and is in addition to the assessment instruments required to be administered under Chapter 39, Education Code.
The bill provides that the commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions.
The bill requires TEA to 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.
The bill provides that, not later than November 1, 2008, TEA shall submit a report of its conclusions and recommendations resulting from its exploration of alternative methods of evaluating the effectiveness of disciplinary alternative education programs 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.
The bill provides that the provisions of the bill requiring assessment of a student's academic growth during placement in a disciplinary alternative education program apply beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.