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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to alternative assessment of certain public school |
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students under the public school accountability system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.0222 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.0222. ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM. (a) The |
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agency shall develop and implement an alternative assessment system |
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for students in grade levels three through eight in accordance with |
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this section. |
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(b) A school district may apply to the commissioner for |
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authority to assess students in grade levels three through eight |
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under the alternative system. The commissioner shall approve a |
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district's application unless exceptional circumstances indicate |
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that approval for the specific district is unwarranted. |
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(c) Under the alternative system, the assessment |
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instruments required by Sections 39.023(a), (b), and (l) shall be |
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used to assess a student's progress over the course of a school |
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year. To achieve that purpose, a school district that obtains |
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approval under Subsection (b) of this section shall administer the |
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assessment instruments to students at the beginning of the school |
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year and at the end of the school year. |
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(d) For purposes of public school accountability under this |
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chapter, the performance of a school district participating in the |
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alternative system shall be determined on the basis of a student's |
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progress during the school year. |
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(e) This section does not affect the applicability of |
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Section 28.0211 to students enrolled in a school district |
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participating in an alternative system. |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |