BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1309

By: Davis

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires the Texas Education Agency to develop and administer alternative examinations to assess students who are receiving special education services. S.B. 1309 seeks to amend current law relating to assessment alternatives or accommodations for certain public school students in special education programs.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1309 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Education Agency, in conjunction with appropriate interested persons, to redevelop alternative tests for administration to significantly cognitively disabled students in a manner consistent with federal law. The bill prohibits such an alternative test from requiring a teacher to prepare tasks or materials for a student who will be administered the test and adds a temporary provision, set to expire September 1, 2015, to require the redeveloped alternative tests to be administered beginning not later than the 2014-2015 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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