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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the validity, reliability, and design of certain |
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state-adopted or state-developed assessment instruments for public |
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school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-11) and (a-12) to read as follows: |
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(a-11) Before an assessment instrument adopted or developed |
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under Subsection (a) may be administered under that subsection, |
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the assessment instrument must, on the basis of empirical evidence, |
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be determined to be valid and reliable by an entity that is |
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independent of the agency and of any other entity that developed the |
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assessment instrument. |
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(a-12) The agency shall ensure that an assessment |
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instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) is designed |
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only to assess student understanding of the essential knowledge and |
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skills identified by the State Board of Education under Section |
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28.002 of the subject and for the grade level for which the |
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assessment instrument is administered. |
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(a-13) An assessment instrument adopted or developed under |
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Subsection (a) may be used only for purposes: |
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(1) for which the assessment instrument is designed; |
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and |
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(2) for which, on the basis of empirical evidence, the |
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assessment instrument is determined to be valid and reliable by an |
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entity that is independent of the agency and of any other entity |
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that developed the assessment instrument. |
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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. |