BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 906

By: Deuell

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties raise concerns regarding testing standards for students in a special education program, with the implication that certain students with significant impairments are being set up to fail. S.B. 906 seeks to address these concerns as they relate to the developmentally appropriate assessment of students in a special education program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Education Agency in SECTION 3 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 906 amends the Education Code to prohibit the Texas Education Agency (TEA) from adopting a performance standard that indicates that a student's performance on the alternate statewide standardized test administered to students in a special education program does not meet standards if the lowest level of the test accurately represents the student's developmental level as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee. The bill requires TEA, as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, but not later than October 1, 2013, to adopt and implement rules consistent with the bill's provisions. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.