By: VanDeaver, González, Guillen, Huberty, H.B. No. 1164
      et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the assessment of public school students in writing and
  English language arts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 18.005(c), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  A Job Corps diploma program shall:
               (1)  develop educational programs specifically
  designed for persons eligible for enrollment in a Job Corps
  training program established by the United States Department of
  Labor;
               (2)  coordinate educational programs and services in
  the diploma program with programs and services provided by the
  United States Department of Labor and other federal and state
  agencies and local political subdivisions and by persons who
  provide programs and services under contract with the United States
  Department of Labor;
               (3)  provide a course of instruction that includes the
  required curriculum under Subchapter A, Chapter 28;
               (4)  require that students enrolled in the diploma
  program satisfy the requirements of Sections 18.0055 and [Section]
  39.025 before receiving a diploma under this chapter; and
               (5)  comply with a requirement imposed under this title
  or a rule adopted under this title relating to the Public Education
  Information Management System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to
  determine compliance with this chapter, as determined by the
  commissioner.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 18, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Section 18.0055 to read as follows:
         Sec. 18.0055.  LOCAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:  WRITING. A Job
  Corps diploma program shall provide for the evaluation of student
  achievement in writing consistent with the requirements provided
  for school districts under Section 39.0264 for courses listed under
  Section 39.0264(b). A Job Corps diploma program shall provide for
  notice and reporting of performance of students assessed consistent
  with the requirements under Section 39.0264.
         SECTION 3.  Section 25.005(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A reciprocity agreement must:
               (1)  address procedures for:
                     (A)  transferring student records;
                     (B)  awarding credit for completed course work;
  and
                     (C)  permitting a student to satisfy the
  requirements of:
                           (i)  Section 39.025 through successful
  performance on comparable end-of-course or other exit-level
  assessment instruments administered in another state; and
                           (ii)  Section 39.0264(b) through successful
  performance under a method of assessment in another state
  determined by the school district in which the student attends to be
  comparable to or at least as rigorous as the method of assessment
  used by that district; and
               (2)  include appropriate criteria developed by the
  agency.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 28.025(b-4), (b-7), (c), and (d),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b-4)  A school district may offer the curriculum described
  in Subsections (b-1)(1) through (4) in an applied manner.  Courses
  delivered in an applied manner must cover the essential knowledge
  and skills, and the student shall be:
               (1)  administered the applicable end-of-course
  assessment instrument as provided by Sections 39.023(c) and 39.025;
  and
               (2)  for an applicable course described by Subsection
  (b-1)(1), assessed as provided by Section 39.0264(b).
         (b-7)  The State Board of Education, in coordination with the
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to
  ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum requirements
  under the foundation high school program or for an endorsement
  under Subsection (c-1) by successfully completing appropriate
  courses in the core curriculum of an institution of higher
  education under Section 61.822.  Notwithstanding Subsection (b-15)
  or (c) of this section, Section 39.025 or 39.0264(b), or any other
  provision of this code and notwithstanding any school district
  policy, a student who has completed the core curriculum of an
  institution of higher education under Section 61.822, as certified
  by the institution in accordance with commissioner rule, is
  considered to have earned a distinguished level of achievement
  under the foundation high school program and is entitled to receive
  a high school diploma from the appropriate high school as that high
  school is determined in accordance with commissioner rule.  A
  student who is considered to have earned a distinguished level of
  achievement under the foundation high school program under this
  subsection may apply for admission to an institution of higher
  education for the first semester or other academic term after the
  semester or other academic term in which the student completes the
  core curriculum.
         (c)  A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible
  for a diploma under Section 28.0251.  In other cases, a student may
  graduate and receive a diploma only if:
               (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
  requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
  Subsection (a) and complies with Sections [Section] 39.025 and
  39.0264(b); or
               (2)  the student successfully completes an
  individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
         (d)  A school district may issue a certificate of coursework
  completion to a student who successfully completes the curriculum
  requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
  Subsection (a) but who fails to comply with Section 39.025 or
  39.0264(b).  A school district may allow a student who receives a
  certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with students
  receiving high school diplomas.
         SECTION 5.  Section 28.0255(g), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (g)  A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the
  student:
               (1)  successfully complies with the curriculum
  requirements specified under Subsection (e); [and]
               (2)  performs satisfactorily, as determined by the
  commissioner under Subsection (h), on end-of-course assessment
  instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the
  student was enrolled; and
               (3)  demonstrates performance that indicates that the
  student has successfully achieved the essential knowledge and
  skills in writing, as determined by standards established by the
  board of trustees of the school district, for each course listed
  under Section 39.0264(b) in which the student is enrolled.
         SECTION 6.  Section 29.087(f), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (f)  A student participating in a program authorized by this
  section, other than a student ordered to participate under
  Subsection (d)(1), must have taken the appropriate end-of-course
  assessment instruments specified by Section 39.023(c) and been
  assessed for the appropriate courses as provided by Section
  39.0264(b) before entering the program and must take each
  appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument administered
  during the period in which the student is enrolled in the program
  and be assessed for each appropriate course as provided by Section
  39.0264(b) during the period in which the student is enrolled in the
  program.  Except for a student ordered to participate under
  Subsection (d)(1), a student participating in the program may not
  take the high school equivalency examination unless the student has
  taken the assessment instruments required by this subsection and
  been assessed for the appropriate courses as provided by Section
  39.0264(b) as required by this subsection.
         SECTION 7.  Section 29.402(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A person who is under 26 years of age is eligible to
  enroll in a dropout recovery program under this subchapter if the
  person:
               (1)  must complete not more than three course credits
  to complete the curriculum requirements for the foundation high
  school program for high school graduation; or
               (2)  has failed to:
                     (A)  perform satisfactorily on an end-of-course
  assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(c) or an
  assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023(c) as that
  section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312 (S.B. 1031), Acts
  of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007; or
                     (B)  demonstrate satisfactory performance under
  an assessment required by Section 39.0264(b).
         SECTION 8.  Section 30.021(e), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  The school shall cooperate with public and private
  agencies and organizations serving students and other persons with
  visual impairments in the planning, development, and
  implementation of effective educational and rehabilitative service
  delivery systems associated with educating students with visual
  impairments.  To maximize and make efficient use of state
  facilities, funding, and resources, the services provided in this
  area may include conducting a cooperative program with other
  agencies to serve students who have graduated from high school by
  completing all academic requirements applicable to students in
  regular education, excluding satisfactory performance under
  Sections [Section] 39.025 and 39.0264(b), who are younger than 22
  years of age on September 1 of the school year and who have
  identified needs related to vocational training, independent
  living skills, orientation and mobility, social and leisure skills,
  compensatory skills, or remedial academic skills.
         SECTION 9.  Sections 30.104(b) and (c), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A student may graduate and receive a diploma from a
  Texas Juvenile Justice Department [Youth Commission] educational
  program if:
               (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
  requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
  Section 28.025(a) and complies with:
                     (A)  Section 39.025; and
                     (B)  Section 39.0264(b), including by
  demonstrating satisfactory performance under the method of
  assessment required by the school district granting the student
  academic course requirements for high school graduation for a
  course listed in Section 39.0264(b) that the student successfully
  completes in Texas Juvenile Justice Department educational
  programs; or
               (2)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
  requirements under Section 28.025(a) as modified by an
  individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
         (c)  A Texas Juvenile Justice Department [Youth Commission]
  educational program may issue a certificate of course-work
  completion to a student who successfully completes the curriculum
  requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
  Section 28.025(a) but who fails to comply with Section 39.025 or
  39.0264(b).
         SECTION 10.  Section 37.011, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as
  follows:
         (d)  A juvenile justice alternative education program must
  focus on English language arts, mathematics, science, social
  studies, and self-discipline. Each school district shall consider
  course credit earned by a student while in a juvenile justice
  alternative education program as credit earned in a district
  school. Each program shall administer assessment instruments under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, shall assess students in applicable
  grades and courses as provided by Subsection (d-1), and shall offer
  a high school equivalency program. The juvenile board or the
  board's designee, with the parent or guardian of each student,
  shall regularly review the student's academic progress. In the
  case of a high school student, the board or the board's designee,
  with the student's parent or guardian, shall review the student's
  progress towards meeting high school graduation requirements and
  shall establish a specific graduation plan for the student. The
  program is not required to provide a course necessary to fulfill a
  student's high school graduation requirements other than a course
  specified by this subsection.
         (d-1)  A juvenile justice alternative education program
  shall provide for the evaluation of student achievement in writing
  consistent with the requirements provided for school districts
  under Section 39.0264. A juvenile justice alternative education
  program shall provide for notice and reporting of performance of
  students assessed consistent with the requirements under Section
  39.0264.
         SECTION 11.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
  until on or before September 1, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in reading, English language arts
  [writing], mathematics, social studies, and science.  Except as
  provided by Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students
  assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section
  39.027, shall be assessed in:
               (1)  mathematics, annually in grades three through
  seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid
  of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
               (2)  reading, annually in grades three through eight;
               (3)  English language arts [writing], including
  spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;
               (4)  social studies, in grade eight;
               (5)  science, in grades five and eight; and
               (6)  any other subject and grade required by federal
  law.
         SECTION 12.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
  on or before September 1, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in reading, English language arts
  [writing], mathematics, social studies, and science.  Except as
  provided by Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students
  assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section
  39.027, shall be assessed in:
               (1)  mathematics, in grades three and five without the
  aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid of technology on
  any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
               (2)  reading, in grades three, five, and eight;
               (3)  English language arts [writing], including
  spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;
               (4)  social studies, in grade eight; and
               (5)  science, in grades five and eight.
         SECTION 13.  Section 39.023(a), Education Code, as effective
  September 1, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in reading, English language arts
  [writing], mathematics, social studies, and science.  Except as
  provided by Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students
  assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section
  39.027, shall be assessed in:
               (1)  mathematics, annually in grades three through
  seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid
  of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;
               (2)  reading, annually in grades three through eight;
               (3)  English language arts [writing], including
  spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;
               (4)  social studies, in grade eight;
               (5)  science, in grades five and eight; and
               (6)  any other subject and grade required by federal
  law.
         SECTION 14.  Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b-2)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
  a student in a special education program under Subchapter A,
  Chapter 29, may, with the approval of the student's parent or legal
  guardian, opt out of the administration of an assessment instrument
  in English language arts otherwise required under this section. If
  a student opts out of an assessment instrument in accordance with
  this subsection, the student's school district, in conjunction with
  the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee, shall
  adopt or develop an alternative assessment instrument in English
  language arts to be administered to the student. Assessment
  instruments adopted or developed under this subsection must be
  approved by the student's district superintendent.
         SECTION 15.  Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (q) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment
  instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, biology,
  English I, English II, and United States history.  The Algebra I
  end-of-course assessment instrument must be administered with the
  aid of technology.  The English I and English II end-of-course
  assessment instruments must each assess essential knowledge and
  skills in both reading and language arts [writing] in the same
  assessment instrument and must provide a single score.  A school
  district shall comply with State Board of Education rules regarding
  administration of the assessment instruments listed in this
  subsection.  If a student is in a special education program under
  Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review, and
  dismissal committee shall determine whether any allowable
  modification is necessary in administering to the student an
  assessment instrument required under this subsection.  The State
  Board of Education shall administer the assessment
  instruments.  The State Board of Education shall adopt a schedule
  for the administration of end-of-course assessment instruments
  that complies with the requirements of Subsection (c-3).
         (q)  The assessment of a student's writing is governed by
  Section 39.0264.
         SECTION 16.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.0264 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0264.  LOCAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:  WRITING. (a)  To
  evaluate student achievement in writing, each school district shall
  assess students in grades four and seven and at the end of English I
  and English II secondary-level courses in accordance with the
  essential knowledge and skills for writing. A district may use any
  method the district determines appropriate for assessing students
  under this section, including portfolio assessment.
         (b)  A student assessed at the end of an English I or English
  II secondary-level course is required to demonstrate performance
  that indicates the student has successfully achieved the essential
  knowledge and skills in writing for the course as determined by
  standards established by the board of trustees of the school
  district the student attends.  A student may not receive a high
  school diploma until the student has demonstrated satisfactory
  performance in the manner provided by this subsection.
         (c)  The school district a student attends shall provide
  written notice of the performance of a student assessed as required
  under this section to the student's parent or person standing in
  parental relation to the student.
         (d)  Each school year, each school district shall prepare a
  report of the performance of students assessed as required by this
  section. The report must include information regarding the
  aggregate student performance in each grade or course required by
  this section:
               (1)  for the district; and
               (2)  for each campus in the district.
         (e)  The report prepared under Subsection (d) must be:
               (1)  filed with:
                     (A)  the agency; and
                     (B)  the board of trustees of the school district;
  and
               (2)  posted on the district's Internet website.
         (f)  For an assessment required by this section, a school
  district is subject only to the notice and reporting requirements
  provided by this section.
         SECTION 17.  Section 39.034(d), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  The agency shall determine the necessary annual
  improvement required each year for a student to be prepared to
  perform satisfactorily on, as applicable:
               (1)  the grade five assessment instruments;
               (2)  the grade eight assessment instruments; and
               (3)  the end-of-course assessment instruments required
  under Section 39.023 [this subchapter for graduation].
         SECTION 18.  Not later than September 1, 2016, the Texas
  Education Agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in English language arts as required
  by Section 39.023, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 19.  This Act applies beginning with the 2016-2017
  school year.
         SECTION 20.  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, 2015.