By: Huberty (Senate Sponsor - Taylor) H.B. No. 3906
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2019;
  May 10, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Education; May 19, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0;
  May 19, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3906 By:  Taylor
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the assessment of public school student development,
  comprehension, and performance, including the administration of
  assessment instruments for that purpose.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Effective September 1, 2021, Section 21.4551(c),
  Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The commissioner by rule shall require a teacher to
  attend a reading academy if the teacher provides instruction in
  reading, mathematics, science, or social studies to students at the
  sixth, seventh, or eighth grade level at a campus that fails to
  satisfy any standard under Section 39.054(e) on the basis of
  student performance on the language arts [reading] assessment
  instrument administered under Section 39.023(a) to students in any
  grade level at the campus.
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.006, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (f) and adding Subsections
  (b-1), (b-2), (c-2), (c-3), and (l) to read as follows:
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt a list of reading
  instruments that a school district may use to diagnose student
  reading development and comprehension.  For use in diagnosing the
  reading development and comprehension of kindergarten students,
  the commissioner shall adopt a [include on the commissioner's list
  at least two] multidimensional assessment tool that includes
  [tools.   A multidimensional assessment tool on the commissioner's
  list must either include] a reading instrument and tests [test] at
  least three developmental skills, including literacy[, or test at
  least two developmental skills, other than literacy, and be
  administered in conjunction with a separate reading instrument that
  is on a list adopted under this subsection].  A multidimensional
  assessment tool administered as provided by this subsection is
  considered to be a reading instrument for purposes of this section.  
  A district-level committee established under Subchapter F, Chapter
  11, may adopt a list of reading instruments for use in the district
  in a grade level other than kindergarten in addition to the reading
  instruments on the commissioner's list.  Each reading instrument
  adopted by the commissioner or a district-level committee must be
  based on scientific research concerning reading skills development
  and reading comprehension.  A list of reading instruments adopted
  under this subsection must provide for diagnosing the reading
  development and comprehension of students participating in a
  program under Subchapter B, Chapter 29.
         (b-1)  The commissioner may approve an alternative reading
  instrument for use in diagnosing the reading development and
  comprehension of kindergarten students that complies with the
  requirements under Subsection (b).
         (b-2)  The agency may develop reading instruments for
  purposes of this section.
         (c)  Each school district shall administer, at the
  [kindergarten and] first and second grade levels, a reading
  instrument on the list adopted by the commissioner or by the
  district-level committee.  The district shall administer the
  reading instrument in accordance with the commissioner's
  recommendations under Subsection (a)(1).
         (c-2)  Each school district shall administer at the
  kindergarten level a reading instrument adopted by the commissioner
  under Subsection (b) or approved by the commissioner under
  Subsection (b-1).  The district shall administer the reading
  instrument in accordance with the commissioner's recommendations
  under Subsection (a)(1).
         (c-3)  The commissioner by rule shall determine the
  performance on the reading instrument adopted under Subsection (b)
  that indicates kindergarten readiness.
         (d)  The superintendent of each school district shall:
               (1)  report to the commissioner and the board of
  trustees of the district the results of the reading instruments;
               (2)  not later than the 60th day after the date on which
  a reading instrument was administered report, in writing, to a
  student's parent or guardian the student's results on the [reading]
  instrument; and
               (3)  using the school readiness certification system
  provided to the school district in accordance with Section
  29.161(e), report electronically each student's raw score on the
  reading instrument to the agency for use in the school readiness
  certification system.
         (f)  The agency shall ensure at least one reading instrument
  for each grade level for which a reading instrument is required to
  be administered under this section is available to school districts
  at no cost. [This section may be implemented only if funds are
  appropriated for administering the reading instruments.   Funds,
  other than local funds, may be used to pay the cost of administering
  a reading instrument only if the instrument is on the list adopted
  by the commissioner.]
         (l)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this section. Section 2001.0045, Government Code, does
  not apply to rules adopted under this subsection.
         SECTION 3.  Effective September 1, 2021, Section
  28.006(c-1), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (c-1)  Each school district shall administer at the
  beginning of the seventh grade a reading instrument adopted by the
  commissioner to each student whose performance on the assessment
  instrument in language arts [reading] administered under Section
  39.023(a) to the student in grade six did not demonstrate reading
  proficiency, as determined by the commissioner. The district shall
  administer the reading instrument in accordance with the
  commissioner's recommendations under Subsection (a)(1).
         SECTION 4.  Effective September 1, 2021, Sections 28.0211(a)
  and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (e), a student
  may not be promoted to:
               (1)  the sixth grade program to which the student would
  otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
  satisfactorily on the fifth grade mathematics and language arts
  [reading] assessment instruments under Section 39.023; or
               (2)  the ninth grade program to which the student would
  otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
  satisfactorily on the eighth grade mathematics and language arts
  [reading] assessment instruments under Section 39.023.
         (c)  Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
  an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a), the school
  district in which the student attends school shall provide to the
  student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject area,
  including reading instruction for a student who fails to perform
  satisfactorily on a language arts [reading] assessment instrument.
  After a student fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment
  instrument a second time, a grade placement committee shall be
  established to prescribe the accelerated instruction the district
  shall provide to the student before the student is administered the
  assessment instrument the third time. The grade placement
  committee shall be composed of the principal or the principal's
  designee, the student's parent or guardian, and the teacher of the
  subject of an assessment instrument on which the student failed to
  perform satisfactorily. The district shall notify the parent or
  guardian of the time and place for convening the grade placement
  committee and the purpose of the committee. An accelerated
  instruction group administered by a school district under this
  section may not have a ratio of more than 10 students for each
  teacher.
         SECTION 5.  Effective September 1, 2021, Section 29.056(g),
  Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (g)  A district may transfer a student of limited English
  proficiency out of a bilingual education or special language
  program for the first time or a subsequent time if the student is
  able to participate equally in a regular all-English instructional
  program as determined by:
               (1)  agency-approved tests administered at the end of
  each school year to determine the extent to which the student has
  developed oral and written language proficiency and specific
  language skills in English;
               (2)  satisfactory performance on the language arts
  [reading] assessment instrument under Section 39.023(a) or an
  English language arts assessment instrument under Section
  39.023(c), as applicable, with the assessment instrument
  administered in English, or, if the student is enrolled in the first
  or second grade, an achievement score at or above the 40th
  percentile in the reading and language arts sections of an English
  standardized test approved by the agency; and
               (3)  agency-approved criterion-referenced tests and
  the results of a subjective teacher evaluation.
         SECTION 6.  Section 29.1543, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 29.1543.  EARLY EDUCATION REPORTS. The agency shall
  produce and make available to the public on the agency's Internet
  website annual district and campus-level reports containing
  information from the previous school year on early education in
  school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. A report
  under this section must contain:
               (1)  the information required by Section 29.1532(c) to
  be reported through the Public Education Information Management
  System (PEIMS);
               (2)  a description of the diagnostic reading
  instruments administered in accordance with Section 28.006(c) or
  (c-2);
               (3)  the number of students who were administered a
  diagnostic reading instrument administered in accordance with
  Section 28.006(c) or (c-2);
               (4)  the number of students whose scores from a
  diagnostic reading instrument administered in accordance with
  Section 28.006(c) or (c-2) indicate reading proficiency; [and]
               (5)  the number of kindergarten students who were
  enrolled in a prekindergarten program in the previous school year
  in the same district or school as the district or school in which
  the student attends kindergarten;
               (6)  the number and percentage of students who perform
  satisfactorily on the third grade reading or mathematics assessment
  instrument administered under Section 39.023, disaggregated by
  whether the student was eligible for free prekindergarten under
  Section 29.153;
               (7)  the number of students described by Subdivision
  (6) who attended kindergarten in the district, disaggregated by:
                     (A)  whether the student met the kindergarten
  readiness standard on the reading instrument adopted under Section
  28.006;
                     (B)  whether the student attended prekindergarten
  in the district; and
                     (C)  the type of prekindergarten the student
  attended, if applicable; and
               (8)  the information described by Subdivisions (6) and
  (7) disaggregated by whether the student is educationally
  disadvantaged.
         SECTION 7.  Effective September 1, 2021, Section 29.1543,
  Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.1543.  EARLY EDUCATION REPORTS. The agency shall
  produce and make available to the public on the agency's Internet
  website annual district and campus-level reports containing
  information from the previous school year on early education in
  school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. A report
  under this section must contain:
               (1)  the information required by Section 29.1532(c) to
  be reported through the Public Education Information Management
  System (PEIMS);
               (2)  a description of the diagnostic reading
  instruments administered in accordance with Section 28.006(c) or
  (c-2);
               (3)  the number of students who were administered a
  diagnostic reading instrument administered in accordance with
  Section 28.006(c) or (c-2);
               (4)  the number of students whose scores from a
  diagnostic reading instrument administered in accordance with
  Section 28.006(c) or (c-2) indicate reading proficiency; [and]
               (5)  the number of kindergarten students who were
  enrolled in a prekindergarten program in the previous school year
  in the same district or school as the district or school in which
  the student attends kindergarten;
               (6)  the number and percentage of students who perform
  satisfactorily on the third grade language arts or mathematics
  assessment instrument administered under Section 39.023,
  disaggregated by whether the student was eligible for free
  prekindergarten under Section 29.153;
               (7)  the number of students described by Subdivision
  (6) who attended kindergarten in the district, disaggregated by:
                     (A)  whether the student met the kindergarten
  readiness standard on the reading instrument adopted under Section
  28.006;
                     (B)  whether the student attended prekindergarten
  in the district; and
                     (C)  the type of prekindergarten the student
  attended, if applicable; and
               (8)  the information described by Subdivisions (6) and
  (7) disaggregated by whether the student is educationally
  disadvantaged.
         SECTION 8.  Section 39.022, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 39.022.  ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. The commissioner, after
  providing for a public hearing in coordination with the State Board
  of Education, by rule shall create and implement a statewide
  assessment program that is based on the essential knowledge and
  skills adopted by the State Board of Education under Subchapter A,
  Chapter 28, [knowledge- and skills-based] to ensure school
  accountability for student achievement that achieves the goals
  provided under Section 4.002.  After adopting rules under this
  section, the commissioner [State Board of Education] shall consider
  the importance of maintaining stability in the statewide assessment
  program when adopting any subsequent modification of the rules.
         SECTION 9.  Effective September 1, 2021, Section 39.023,
  Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
  Subsection (a-4) to read as follows:
         (a)  The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate
  criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess
  essential knowledge and skills in language arts [reading, 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)  language arts, including reading and writing,
  annually in grades three through eight;
               (3)  [writing, including spelling and grammar, in
  grades four and seven;
               [(4)]  social studies, in grade eight;
               (4) [(5)]  science, in grades five and eight; and
               (5) [(6)]  any other subject and grade required by
  federal law.
         (a-4)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the commissioner
  by rule may designate sections of a mathematics assessment
  instrument for a grade level that:
               (1)  may be completed with the aid of technology; and
               (2)  must be completed without the aid of technology.
         SECTION 10.  Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-12), (a-13), (b-1), (c), and (c-3) and
  adding Subsections (a-14), (a-15), (c-7), (c-8), and (o) to read as
  follows:
         (a-12)  Each [An] assessment instrument adopted or developed
  under Subsection (a) must be designed so that:
               (1)  if administered to students in grades three
  through five, 85 percent of students will be able to complete all
  [the] assessment instruments for that grade [instrument] within an
  aggregate period equal to the number of assessment instruments for
  that grade multiplied by 120 minutes; and
               (2)  if administered to students in grades six through
  eight, 85 percent of students will be able to complete all [the]
  assessment instruments for that grade [instrument] within an
  aggregate period equal to the number of assessment instruments for
  that grade multiplied by 180 minutes.
         (a-13)  The amount of time allowed for administration of an
  assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) may
  not exceed eight hours, and the administration may occur in
  multiple parts over more than [on only] one day.
         (a-14)  Subsections (a-12) and (a-13) do not apply to the
  administration of assessment instruments for a grade level if the
  time restriction imposed would result in a determination by the
  commissioner that an assessment instrument is no longer valid and
  reliable.
         (a-15)  Subsections (a-12) and (a-13) do not apply to a
  classroom portfolio method used to assess writing performance.
         (b-1)  The agency, in conjunction with appropriate
  interested persons, shall redevelop assessment instruments adopted
  or developed under Subsection (b) for administration to
  significantly cognitively disabled students in a manner consistent
  with federal law. An assessment instrument under this subsection
  may not require a teacher to prepare tasks or materials for a
  student who will be administered such an assessment instrument. A
  classroom portfolio method used to assess writing performance may
  require a teacher to prepare tasks and materials [Assessment
  instruments adopted or developed under this subsection shall be
  administered not later than the 2014-2015 school year].
         (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, but may include one or more parts that prohibit
  the use of technology. The English I and English II end-of-course
  assessment instruments must each assess essential knowledge and
  skills in both reading and writing [in the same assessment
  instrument] and must provide a single score. A school district
  shall comply with commissioner [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
  commissioner [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).]
         (c-3)  Except as provided by Subsection (c-7), in [In]
  adopting a schedule for the administration of assessment
  instruments under this section, the commissioner [State Board of
  Education] shall ensure that [require:
               [(1)]  assessment instruments administered under
  Subsection (a) or (c) are not [to be] administered on the first
  instructional day of a week [a schedule so that the first assessment
  instrument is administered at least two weeks later than the date on
  which the first assessment instrument was administered under
  Subsection (a) during the 2006-2007 school year; and
               [(2)     the spring administration of end-of-course
  assessment instruments under Subsection (c) to occur in each school
  district not earlier than the first full week in May, except that
  the spring administration of the end-of-course assessment
  instruments in English I and English II must be permitted to occur
  at an earlier date].
         (c-7)  Subsection (c-3) does not apply to a classroom
  portfolio method used to assess writing performance if student
  performance under that method is less than 50 percent of a student's
  overall assessed performance in writing.
         (c-8)  Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, an
  assessment instrument developed under Subsection (a) or (c) may not
  present more than 75 percent of the questions in a multiple choice
  format.
         (o)  The agency shall adopt or develop optional interim
  assessment instruments for each subject or course for each grade
  level subject to assessment under this section. A school district
  may not be required to administer interim assessment instruments
  adopted or developed under this subsection. An interim assessment
  instrument:
               (1)  must be:
                     (A)  predictive of the assessment instrument for
  the applicable subject or course for that grade level required
  under this section; and
                     (B)  administered electronically; and
               (2)  may not be used for accountability purposes.
         SECTION 11.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.02302 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.02302.  ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR ASSESSMENT
  INSTRUMENTS. (a) The commissioner shall appoint a technical
  advisory committee to advise the commissioner and the agency
  regarding the development of valid and reliable assessment
  instruments for purposes of this chapter. The members of the
  committee must be experts on educational assessments and
  psychometrics.
         (b)  The commissioner shall appoint an educator advisory
  committee to advise the commissioner and the agency regarding the
  development of academically appropriate assessment instruments for
  purposes of this chapter.  The members of the committee must include
  experts in curriculum and instruction.
         (c)  The agency may compensate a member of the technical or
  educator advisory committee or reimburse the member for expenses
  incurred in the performance of duties related to the member's
  service on the committee.
         (d)  The selection of or payment to a member of the technical
  or educator advisory committee is not subject to Chapter 2110 or
  2254, Government Code.
         SECTION 12.  Section 39.0234, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 39.0234.  ELECTRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF ASSESSMENT
  INSTRUMENTS [BY COMPUTER]. (a) The agency shall ensure that
  assessment instruments required under Section 39.023 are capable of
  being administered electronically [by computer].
         (b)  A school district shall administer each assessment
  instrument required under Section 39.023 electronically unless the
  district receives a waiver from the commissioner. This subsection
  does not apply to the administration of an assessment instrument to
  a student who requires accommodations in the administration of the
  assessment instrument that are not available if administered
  electronically.
         (c)  Except as provided by Section 39.02341, a school
  district must comply with Subsection (b) beginning with the
  2022-2023 school year.  This subsection expires September 1, 2023.  
  [The commissioner may not require a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school to administer an assessment
  instrument by computer.]
         SECTION 13.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 39.02341, 39.0236, and 39.0237 to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 39.02341.  TRANSITION TO ELECTRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF
  ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS. (a) The agency shall develop a transition
  plan to administer all assessment instruments required under
  Section 39.023 electronically beginning not later than the
  2022-2023 school year.
         (b)  As part of the transition plan, the agency may provide
  results on an assessment instrument required under Section 39.023
  on an accelerated schedule to school districts that administer the
  assessment instrument electronically. For purposes of this
  subsection, the commissioner by rule may require the results on an
  assessment instrument administered electronically to be reported
  to the district as soon as practicable after administration.
         (c)  As part of the transition plan, the commissioner may
  require a school district to comply with Section 39.0234(b) before
  the 2022-2023 school year.
         (d)  Not later than December 1, 2020, the agency shall submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the members of the
  legislature a report on the progress of transitioning to electronic
  administration of all assessment instruments required under
  Section 39.023. The report must include:
               (1)  information from school districts assessing the
  needs of those districts in transitioning to electronic
  administration;
               (2)  any recommended changes to state law to assist in
  the transition; and
               (3)  any recommended adjustments to the timeline for
  statewide implementation of electronic administration.
         (e)  Not later than December 1, 2022, the agency shall submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the members of the
  legislature a report on the anticipated impact to school districts
  of the implementation of electronic administration of all
  assessment instruments required under Section 39.023.
         (f)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         Sec. 39.0236.  INTEGRATED FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT PILOT
  PROGRAM. (a) The agency shall establish a pilot program in which
  participating school districts administer to students integrated
  formative assessment instruments for subjects or courses for a
  grade level subject to assessment under Section 28.006 or 39.023.
         (b)  A school district may elect to participate in the pilot
  program.
         (c)  A school district's participation in the pilot program
  does not affect the district's obligations regarding the
  administration of assessment instruments required under Section
  39.023.
         (d)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the agency shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
  and the members of the legislature a report on the pilot program
  that includes:
               (1)  an analysis of whether the administration of
  integrated formative assessment instruments under the pilot
  program provided any improvement in instructional support during
  the preceding two school years; and
               (2)  a determination of the feasibility of replacing
  the assessment instruments required under Section 39.023 with
  integrated formative assessment instruments.
         Sec. 39.0237.  CONSIDERATION OF PREKINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENT
  INSTRUMENTS PROHIBITED. Performance on an assessment instrument
  administered to students in prekindergarten may not be considered
  for any purpose under this chapter or Chapter 39A.
         SECTION 14.  Section 39.0241(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall determine the level of
  performance considered to be satisfactory on the assessment
  instruments, including:
               (1)  an approaches grade level performance standard in
  the applicable subject or course that indicates that a student is
  likely to succeed in the subject for the subsequent grade level or
  in the subsequent course with targeted intervention;
               (2)  a meets grade level performance standard in the
  applicable subject or course that indicates that a student has a
  high likelihood of success in the subject for the subsequent grade
  level or in the subsequent course but may still need short-term,
  targeted intervention; and
               (3)  a masters grade level performance standard in the
  applicable subject or course that indicates that a student is
  expected to succeed in the subject for the subsequent grade level or
  in the subsequent course with little or no academic intervention.
         SECTION 15.  Section 39.026, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 39.026.  LOCAL OPTION. In addition to the assessment
  instruments adopted by the agency [and administered by the State
  Board of Education], a school district may adopt and administer
  criterion-referenced or norm-referenced assessment instruments, or
  both, at any grade level. A norm-referenced assessment instrument
  adopted under this section must be economical, nationally
  recognized, and state-approved.
         SECTION 16.  Sections 39.0261(a), (e), and (f), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise
  authorized or required by this subchapter:
               (1)  each school year and at state cost, a school
  district may administer to students in the spring of the eighth
  grade an established, valid, reliable, and nationally
  norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment
  instrument for the purpose of diagnosing the academic strengths and
  deficiencies of students before entrance into high school;
               (2)  each school year and at state cost, a school
  district may administer to students in the 10th grade an
  established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced
  preliminary college preparation assessment instrument for the
  purpose of measuring a student's progress toward readiness for
  college and the workplace; and
               (3)  high school students in the spring of the 11th
  grade or during the 12th grade may select and take once, at state
  cost:
                     (A)  [,] one of the valid, reliable, and
  nationally norm-referenced assessment instruments used by colleges
  and universities as part of their undergraduate admissions
  processes; or
                     (B)  the assessment instrument designated by the
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334.
         (e)  Subsection (a)(3) does not prohibit a high school
  student [in the spring of the 11th grade or during the 12th grade]
  from selecting and taking, at the student's own expense, an
  assessment instrument described by that subdivision [one of the
  valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced assessment
  instruments used by colleges and universities as part of their
  undergraduate admissions processes more than once].
         (f)  The provisions of this section regarding assessment
  instruments administered under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) apply only
  if the legislature appropriates funds for those purposes [of this
  section].
         SECTION 17.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39A, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39A.907 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39A.907.  ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT STUDY. (a) The
  commissioner shall contract for a study to determine whether, for
  each applicable grade level, each assessment instrument
  administered under Section 39.023(a) during the 2018-2019 school
  year or scheduled to be administered during the 2019-2020 school
  year is written at the appropriate reading level for students in
  that grade level and includes only passages written at a reading
  level not higher than the grade level at which the assessment
  instrument is administered.
         (b)  In contracting for the study, the commissioner shall use
  a competitive process to select an independent entity to conduct
  the study that is not an entity that develops or otherwise reviews
  assessment instruments under Chapter 39.
         (c)  Chapter 2254, Government Code, does not apply to a
  contract procured under this section.
         (d)  Not later than December 1, 2019, the commissioner shall
  submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  legislature, and the presiding officer of each legislative standing
  committee with jurisdiction over primary and secondary education
  that includes the results of the study.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 18.  Section 21.410, Education Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 19.  Unless this Act provides for an effective date
  later than September 1, 2019, this Act applies beginning with the
  2019-2020 school year.
         SECTION 20.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act:
               (1)  this Act takes effect immediately if this Act
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution;
  and
               (2)  if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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