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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot project to assess public school students by |
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alternative methods. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.0236 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.0236. ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT METHODS PILOT |
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PROJECT. (a) In this section, "alternative assessment" means a |
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method of assessment in which a student is required to solve a |
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problem or demonstrate a skill but is not required to answer |
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questions from a list of possible answers. The term includes |
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assessment through short-answer questions, an essay, a |
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performance, an oral presentation, a demonstration, an experiment, |
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or an exhibition. |
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(b) The agency shall establish a pilot project to use |
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alternative assessment as provided by this section in assessing the |
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performance of students. |
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(c) The agency shall select six public schools to |
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participate in the pilot project. The selected schools must |
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include two schools located in urban areas, two schools located in |
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suburban areas, and two schools located in rural areas. The agency |
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may not select to participate in the pilot project a school that has |
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been rated as academically unacceptable during any of the five |
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years preceding the initial year of the pilot project. |
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter: |
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(1) the academic performance of students in the sixth, |
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seventh, and eighth grade levels in the schools selected to |
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participate in the pilot project shall be assessed in mathematics, |
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science, reading, writing, and social studies using an alternative |
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assessment method rather than any assessment instrument that would |
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otherwise be required under Section 39.023; and |
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(2) the performance of each school selected to |
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participate in the pilot project shall be measured based on student |
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performance using an alternative assessment method rather than any |
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assessment instrument that would otherwise be required under |
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Section 39.023. |
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(d) Each alternative assessment shall be administered under |
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this section to students near the end of each school year. |
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(e) The agency shall adopt rules as necessary to administer |
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this section, including, notwithstanding any other provision of |
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this chapter, rules for determining the level of performance |
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considered to be satisfactory on the alternative assessments. |
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(f) The agency shall implement the pilot project beginning |
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with the 2012-2013 school year. The agency may consult with an |
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institution of higher education in implementing, administering, or |
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evaluating the pilot project. |
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(g) Not later than December 1, 2014, the agency shall report |
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to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and presiding officer of the standing committee of |
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each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public |
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education concerning: |
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(1) based in part on assessment instrument results and |
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other performance of fifth grade students before participating in |
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the pilot project and of ninth grade students after participating |
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in the project, any impact of alternative assessment under this |
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section on: |
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(A) student academic performance; |
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(B) student performance on assessments; |
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(C) school attendance by or retention of |
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students; |
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(D) curriculum enhancement; and |
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(E) teacher professional satisfaction; and |
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(2) any recommendation concerning retaining, |
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modifying, or expanding the alternative assessment project under |
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this section. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |