80R9047 SLO-D

By: Giddings H.B. No. 2658

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the development of college preparatory mathematics and science courses for use in public high schools.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.014 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.014. COLLEGE PREPARATORY MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE COURSES. (a) The commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education shall develop and recommend to the State Board of Education for adoption under Section 28.002 the essential knowledge and skills of a course in college preparatory mathematics and a course in college preparatory science for use in public high schools. The courses must be designed:

(1) for students at the 12th grade level who do not meet college readiness standards on a secondary exit-level assessment instrument required under Section 39.023(c); and

(2) to prepare students for success in entry-level college courses.

(b) A student who successfully completes a course developed under this section may use the credit earned in the course toward satisfying the applicable mathematics or science curriculum requirement for the recommended or advanced high school program under Section 28.025.

(c) The agency, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt an end-of-course assessment instrument for each course developed under this section to ensure the rigor of the course. A school district shall, in accordance with State Board of Education rules, administer the end-of-course assessment instrument to a student enrolled in a course developed under this section. Each school district shall adopt a policy that requires a student's performance on the end-of-course assessment instrument to account for 15 percent of the student's final grade for the course. A student's performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument administered under this subsection is not subject to the graduation requirements established under Section 39.025.

(d) The agency, in coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt a series of optional questions to be included in an end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Subsection (c) to be used for purposes of Section 51.3062. The optional questions must be developed in a manner consistent with any college readiness standards adopted under Sections 39.113 and 51.3062. A student's performance on an optional question adopted under this subsection may not be used to determine the student's performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument.

(e) The State Board of Education shall adopt instructional materials for a course developed under this section in accordance with Chapter 31. The instructional materials must include technology resources that enhance the effectiveness of the course and draw on established best practices.

(f) To the extent applicable, the commissioner shall draw from curricula and instructional materials developed under Sections 28.008 and 61.0763 in developing a course and related instructional materials under this section. Not later than October 1, 2008, the State Board of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills for each course developed under this section. The State Board of Education shall make each course developed under this section and the related instructional materials available to school districts beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. As required by Subsection (c), a school district shall adopt a policy requiring a student's performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument administered under that subsection to account for 15 percent of the student's grade for a course developed under this section beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. This subsection expires September 1, 2012.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.