By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 960
 
 
 
   
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of exit-level state assessment
instruments to transfer students who are dependents of military
personnel.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 39.025, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
       (f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
the commissioner shall allow a student who is the dependent of a
person serving in the military to satisfy the requirements of
Subsection (a) and qualify for a high school diploma through
satisfactory performance on one or more alternative nationally
recognized norm-referenced assessment instruments if the student,
as a result of a military transfer or deployment of the person
serving in the military, transfers into the public school system of
this state after completion of the student's sophomore year in high
school.
       (g)  For purposes of Subsection (f), the commissioner, in
order to ensure that a student described by that subsection may
satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) solely through
performance on one or more alternative assessment instruments,
shall establish required performance levels for the alternative
assessment instrument or instruments that correspond to the
performance levels otherwise required under Subsection (a) on the
secondary exit-level assessment instruments for English language
arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
       SECTION 2.  Section 39.025, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with students enrolled in public high
schools in this state as juniors or seniors during the 2006-2007
school year.
       SECTION 3.  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.