80R7407 SLO-D

By: Howard of Fort Bend H.B. No. 1665

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain requirements relating to public school reading instruction and textbooks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) 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).

SECTION 2. Section 31.023, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) 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 reflect an increase in depth and complexity from one school year to the next.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 31.032 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.032. 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 4. 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;

(6) science, in grades five, eight, and 10; [and]

(7) pre-reading, including phoneme awareness, letter sound knowledge, and letter knowledge, in kindergarten; and

(8) any other subject and grade required by federal law.

(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 5. 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 31.032, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable.

SECTION 6. Sections 1-4 of this Act apply beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

SECTION 7. 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, 2007.