83R11837 JSL-D

By: Duncan, Patrick S.B. No. 1365

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of credit by examination for public school students.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25.092, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:

(a-2) Subsection (a) does not apply to a student who receives credit by examination for a class as provided by Section 28.023.

SECTION 2. Section 28.023, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 28.023. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION. (a) Using guidelines established by the State Board of Education, a school district shall develop or select for board review examinations for acceleration for each primary school grade level and for credit for secondary school academic subjects. The guidelines must provide for the examinations to thoroughly test comprehension of the information presented in the applicable grade level or subject, and must require a school district to develop multiple versions of an examination for a particular grade level or subject for each subsequent administration of the examination in the same school year. The board shall approve examinations that satisfy board guidelines.

(b) A school district shall give a student in a primary grade level credit for a grade level and advance the student one grade level on the basis of a board-approved examination for acceleration if:

(1) the student scores in the 90th percentile or above on each section of the examination; and

(2) [a district representative recommends that the student be advanced; and

[(3)] the student's parent or guardian gives written approval of the advancement.

(c) A school district shall give a student in grade level six or above credit for a subject on the basis of a board-approved examination for credit in the subject if the student scores in the 90th percentile or above on the examination. If a student is given credit in a subject on the basis of an examination, the district shall enter the examination score on the student's transcript, and the student is not required to take an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under Section 39.023(c) for that subject.

(d) Each district shall administer each examination:

(1) not later than the 30th day after the date the district receives a written request from the student's parent, if the test is offered electronically; and

(2) on at least four scheduled occasions per year, if the examination is not offered electronically [not less than once a year, at times to be determined by the State Board of Education].

SECTION 3. Section 25.092(a-2), Education Code, as added by this Act, and Section 28.023, Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

SECTION 4. 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, 2013.