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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of college preparation assessment |
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instruments to public school students at state cost. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.0261, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise |
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authorized or required by this subchapter: |
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(1) each school year and at state cost, a school |
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district may [shall] administer to students in the spring of the |
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eighth grade an established, valid, reliable, and nationally |
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norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment |
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instrument for the purpose of diagnosing the academic strengths and |
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deficiencies of students before entrance into high school; |
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(2) each school year and at state cost, a school |
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district may [shall] administer to students in the 10th grade an |
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established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced |
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preliminary college preparation assessment instrument for the |
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purpose of measuring a student's progress toward readiness for |
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college and the workplace; and |
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(3) high school students in the spring of the 11th |
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grade or during the 12th grade may select and take once, at state |
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cost, one of the valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced |
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assessment instruments used by colleges and universities as part of |
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their undergraduate admissions processes. |
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(a-1) Testing under Subsection (a) must meet standards |
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adopted by commissioner rule, including standards concerning: |
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(1) test administration, scheduling, and |
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accommodations; |
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(2) data collection; and |
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(3) reporting. |
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(b) The agency shall: |
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(1) select and approve vendors of the specific |
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assessment instruments administered under this section; and |
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(2) pay all fees associated with the administration of |
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the assessment instrument from funds appropriated to the agency for |
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that purpose [allotted under the Foundation School Program, and the
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commissioner shall reduce the total amount of state funds allocated
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to each district from any source in the same manner described for a
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reduction in allotments under Section 42.253]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 |
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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, 2015. |