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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate state |
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assessment instruments administered to public school students with |
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significant cognitive disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "STAAR Alternate 2 |
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assessment instrument" means the State of Texas Assessments of |
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Academic Readiness Alternate 2 assessment instrument. |
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SECTION 2. TASK FORCE ON STATE ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS |
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ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE DISABILITIES. |
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(a) A task force is established under this Act for the purpose of |
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evaluating the effectiveness of the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment |
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instrument for significantly cognitively disabled students. |
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(b) The task force is composed of at least 40 members |
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appointed by the director of assessments for special populations in |
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the Texas Education Agency. Each of the following groups must |
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represent approximately one-third of the membership of the task |
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force: |
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(1) special education teachers who have experience |
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working with significantly cognitively disabled students; |
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(2) school administrators and school district central |
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office administrators, with appointments reflecting the geographic |
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diversity of the state; and |
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(3) parents of significantly cognitively disabled |
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students, and any community members with an interest in the subject |
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of the task force, including university professors and other family |
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members of significantly cognitively disabled students. |
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(c) The members of the task force shall select an |
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independent assessment expert group to assist the task force in the |
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performance of its duties. |
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(d) The director of assessments for special populations in |
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the Texas Education Agency shall serve as the presiding officer of |
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the task force. |
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(e) The director of assessments for special populations in |
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the Texas Education Agency shall make appointments to the task |
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force not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this |
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Act. The director shall fill a vacancy in the task force by the |
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appointment of another person with the same qualifications as the |
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original appointee. |
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(f) The director of assessments for special populations in |
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the Texas Education Agency shall call the initial meeting of the |
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task force on or before February 1, 2016. The task force shall meet |
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at the times and places that the director determines are |
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appropriate. |
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(g) The task force is not subject to Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task force shall |
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evaluate whether the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment instrument is an |
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effective and appropriate assessment instrument for significantly |
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cognitively disabled students. |
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(b) The task force shall consult with the independent |
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assessment expert group while conducting its evaluation. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than February 1, 2018, the |
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task force shall deliver a report to the commissioner of education |
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detailing the task force's findings and recommendations. The report |
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shall be made available on the Texas Education Agency's Internet |
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website. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this |
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Act expires March 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2015. |