AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

English language learners (ELLs) face numerous challenges in Texas public schools.  In many cases, they have limited schooling prior to enrolling in United States schools, they have insufficient content area knowledge in English and/or Spanish, and they have significant deficiencies in reading and writing skills.  Because of these challenges, it is difficult for ELLs to learn English as a second language while simultaneously mastering core content taught in a language they do not understand.  These difficulties are most pronounced when ELLs are expected to perform on state-mandated high-stakes tests.

 

S.B. 377 amends current law relating to the determination of certain exemptions from the administration of state assessment instruments to public school students.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 39.027, Education Code, by adding Subsection (a-2), to prohibit a student, unless a student is enrolled in a school in the United States for a period of at least 60 consecutive days during a year, from being considered to be enrolled in a school in the United States for that year for the purpose of determining a number of years under Subsection (a)(1) (relating to authorizing a certain student to be administered an accommodated or alternative assessment instrument or to be granted an exemption from or a postponement of the administration of an assessment instrument under certain subsections for a period of up to one year after initial enrollment in a school in the United States), (2) (relating to authorizing a certain student to be administered an accommodated or alternative assessment instrument or granted an exemption from or a postponement of the administration of an assessment instrument under certain sections for a period of up to two years), or (3) (relating to authorizing a certain student to be administered an accommodated or alternative assessment instrument or to be granted an exemption from or a postponement of the administration of an assessment instrument under certain sections for a period of up to four years).

                                                                                                              

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 39.027(a-2), Education Code, as added by this Act, applies to a student regardless of the date on which the student initially enrolled in a school in the United States.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2013.