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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study conducted by the Texas Education Agency |
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regarding the impact of the statewide assessment program on |
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students in special education programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.02302 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.02302. STUDY OF IMPACT OF STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT |
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PROGRAM ON STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) The agency |
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shall conduct a study of the impact of the statewide assessment |
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program on students in a special education program under Subchapter |
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A, Chapter 29. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the agency shall address: |
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(1) whether the agency has determined that the |
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administration of alternate assessment instruments to students in a |
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special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, as |
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provided by Section 39.023(b) complies with the Every Student |
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Succeeds Act (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.); and |
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(2) whether administering state-required assessment |
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instruments, other than assessment instruments developed or |
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adopted under Section 39.023(b), to students in a special education |
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program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, will: |
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(A) provide an accurate assessment of the |
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academic achievement of the students; |
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(B) result in the administration of assessment |
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instruments that are inappropriate for the educational capacity of |
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the students; and |
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(C) result in an increase of grade-level |
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regression for the students. |
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(c) In conducting the study the agency shall identify |
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specific recommendations to improve the impact of the statewide |
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assessment program on students in a special education program under |
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Subchapter A, Chapter 29, including recommendations for areas for |
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improvement in: |
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(1) any reforms or changes with respect to contracting |
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with assessment instrument vendors; |
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(2) any changes to rules adopted by the State Board of |
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Education or the commissioner relating to the development, |
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adoption, or administration of assessment instruments; and |
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(3) any statutory changes to this code relating to the |
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development, adoption, or administration of assessment |
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instruments. |
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(d) Not later than October 1, 2018, the agency shall submit |
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a report to each member of the legislature containing the agency's |
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determinations and recommendations under this section. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |