BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 789
85R2688 SRS-F	By: Meyer (Huffines)
	Education
	5/5/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

There are two types of credit by examination: acceleration examinations that are used to advance a grade in either elementary or middle school and subject credit examinations that are used for course credit in high school. The current state minimum percentage for a student to get credit for either of these examinations is 80 percent, lowered from 90 percent. When the passing score was lowered, Highland Park Independent School District (ISD) experienced an increase in the number of examinations being administered and experienced passing students struggling in class the next year.

H.B. 789 is a local bill that will give Highland Park ISD more local control by allowing the board of trustees to set a minimum passage rate on both acceleration and subject credit examinations that is higher than the state passage rate. The highest the rate can be set at is 90 percent.

H.B. 789 amends current law relating to minimum scores required for students in certain school districts to pass an examination for acceleration or for credit.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.023, Education Code, by adding Subsection (h), as follows:

(h) Provides that this subsection applies only to a school district surrounded by a school district described by Section 11.065(a) (relating to certain sections not applying to the board of trustees of a school district if the district's central administrative office is located in a county with a population of more than two million and if student enrollment is more than 125,000 and less than 200,000). Authorizes a school district's board of trustees, notwithstanding any other provision of this section (Credit by Examination), to establish a minimum required score for each section of an examination for acceleration or an examination for credit approved by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) (relating to requiring a school district to develop or select for review by the trustees certain examinations for each primary school grade level and for credit for secondary school academic subjects) that is higher than the minimum required scores under Subsections (b) (relating to a student meeting certain requirements to advance one level in a primary grade) and (c) (relating to requiring a school district to give a student in a certain grade level credit for a subject based on examination), respectively. Provides that a minimum required score established by a board of trustees under this subsection:

(1) is authorized to be no greater than a score in the 90th percentile;

(2) is required to be established before the beginning of a school year for examinations to be administered in the school year; and

(3) is required to apply for at least the entire school year.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.