84R2390 MK-D
 
  By: González H.B. No. 43
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate state
  assessment instruments administered to public school students with
  significant cognitive disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITION.  In this Act, "STAAR Alternate 2
  assessment instrument" means the State of Texas Assessments of
  Academic Readiness Alternate 2 assessment instrument.
         SECTION 2.  TASK FORCE ON STATE ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
  ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE DISABILITIES.
  (a) A task force is established under this Act for the purpose of
  evaluating the effectiveness of the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment
  instrument for significantly cognitively disabled students.
         (b)  The task force is composed of at least 40 members
  appointed by the director of assessments for special populations in
  the Texas Education Agency. Each of the following groups must
  represent approximately one-third of the membership of the task
  force:
               (1)  special education teachers who have experience
  working with significantly cognitively disabled students;
               (2)  school administrators and school district central
  office administrators, with appointments reflecting the geographic
  diversity of the state; and
               (3)  parents of significantly cognitively disabled
  students, and any community members with an interest in the subject
  of the task force, including university professors and other family
  members of significantly cognitively disabled students.
         (c)  The members of the task force shall select an
  independent assessment expert group to assist the task force in the
  performance of its duties.
         (d)  The director of assessments for special populations in
  the Texas Education Agency shall serve as the presiding officer of
  the task force.
         (e)  The director of assessments for special populations in
  the Texas Education Agency shall make appointments to the task
  force not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this
  Act. The director shall fill a vacancy in the task force by the
  appointment of another person with the same qualifications as the
  original appointee.
         (f)  The director of assessments for special populations in
  the Texas Education Agency shall call the initial meeting of the
  task force on or before February 1, 2016. The task force shall meet
  at the times and places that the director determines are
  appropriate.
         (g)  The task force is not subject to Chapter 2110,
  Government Code.
         SECTION 3.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task force shall
  evaluate whether the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment instrument is an
  effective and appropriate assessment instrument for significantly
  cognitively disabled students.
         (b)  The task force shall consult with the independent
  assessment expert group while conducting its evaluation.
         SECTION 4.  REPORT. Not later than February 1, 2018, the
  task force shall deliver a report to the commissioner of education
  detailing the task force's findings and recommendations. The report
  shall be made available on the Texas Education Agency's Internet
  website.
         SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this
  Act expires March 1, 2018.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September
  1, 2015.