82R9805 KJM-F

By: Patrick H.B. No. 3468

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the assessment of public school students for college readiness and developmental education courses to prepare students for college-level coursework.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0141 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0141. STUDY AND REPORT ON EARLY COLLEGE READINESS ASSESSMENTS. (a) The agency, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall conduct a study of best practices for and existing programs offering early assessments of high school students in order to determine college readiness, identify any deficiencies in college readiness, and provide intervention to address any deficiencies before high school graduation. In conducting the study, the agency, in consultation with the coordinating board, shall review:

(1) various assessments, including end-of-course assessment instruments under Section 39.023(c) and any assessment being proposed as a statewide model by the coordinating board under Section 51.3062(v), for identifying students who need additional assistance in preparing for college;

(2) various early intervention models, including:

(A) summer bridge programs;

(B) college preparatory English and mathematics courses for credit toward high school graduation;

(C) developmental education programs, including college readiness programs under Section 39.234, and college study skills courses; and

(D) dual credit courses;

(3) the costs associated with different assessments and early intervention models; and

(4) the effectiveness of different assessments and early intervention models in preparing students for freshman-level college coursework.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2012, the agency, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education, higher education, or state appropriations a written report that contains recommendations for implementing an assessment and early intervention model for preparing high school students before graduation for freshman-level college coursework, as indicated by performance on the assessment required under Section 51.3062.

(c) This section expires January 1, 2013.

SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.2531 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.2531. ADULT EDUCATION ASSESSMENT. The Texas Education Agency shall, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, review the standardized assessment mechanism required under Section 29.252(a)(7) and recommend any changes necessary to align the assessment with the assessments designated under Section 51.3062 to allow for the proper placement of a student in an adult basic education course or to provide the student with the proper developmental coursework, as appropriate.

SECTION 3. Section 51.3062, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (t), (u), (v), and (w) to read as follows:

(t) To allow a student to complete any necessary developmental coursework in the most efficient and cost-effective manner, the board shall encourage public junior colleges to offer various types of developmental coursework that address various levels of deficiency in readiness to perform freshman-level college coursework as determined on the basis of assessments as described by Subsection (f). Each course under this subsection must, to the greatest extent practicable, be offered to provide for credit, noncredit, and demonstration of proficiency options.

(u) The board shall use evidence-based studies and existing data to study and analyze:

(1) assessment instruments that are currently used or could be used by institutions to comply with this section, including the diagnostic reliability and cost-effectiveness of those assessment instruments;

(2) differentiated placements, for developmental coursework based on a student's demonstrated proficiences or deficiencies in readiness to perform freshman-level college coursework as determined on the basis of assessments as described by Subsection (f), including the extent to which various types of placements result in or serve efficient, cost-effective, and successful developmental education;

(3) whether the funding formulas under Subsection (m) and under Section 61.059, as applied to developmental coursework, result in or serve efficient and cost-effective implementation of successful developmental education; and

(4) whether any of the nonapplicability categories under Subsection (r) should be retained.

(v) Not later than December 1, 2012, the board shall submit a written report based on the study under Subsection (u) to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education or state appropriations recommending a statewide diagnostic standard assessment instrument for purposes of this section that allows for:

(1) accurate diagnosis and targeted intervention for students who are identified as requiring developmental coursework;

(2) appropriate placement to provide the type and level of developmental coursework that allow a student to receive developmental education in the most efficient, cost-effective, and successful manner; and

(3) the most effective use of formula funding with regard to developmental coursework targeted to students' needs.

(w) Subsections (u) and (v) and this subsection expire January 1, 2013.

SECTION 4. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b-1) The board shall include in its periodic review of formulas under Subsection (b) recommendations for changes in funding formulas for developmental education programs based on the results of the study conducted under Section 51.3062(u) and the report submitted under Section 51.3062(v). This subsection expires January 1, 2015.

SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act to Section 61.059, Education Code, applies beginning with periodic reviews submitted on or after December 1, 2012.

SECTION 6. 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, 2011.