Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2983 by Huberty (Relating to the administration to public school students in certain grades of state-administered assessment instruments.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2983, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($2,900,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2020
($2,900,000)
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2020
($2,900,000)
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would eliminate mandatory reading and math state assessments in grades four, six, and seven. It would move state writing assessments from grades four and seven to grades five and eight.
The Texas Education Agency would be required to determine a minimum scale score for each state assessment instrument administered in grades three through eight, based on criteria specified in the bill. Students who did not achieve the minimum score would be required to take the assessment again the following year.
The bill would be contingent upon the Commissioner of Education obtaining a waiver from the federal government allowing its provisions to take effect or obtaining notification from the federal government that a waiver is not required. The bill would take effect on a date no later than September 1, 2021 on which the Commissioner has received either the waiver or notification described above.
Methodology
According to TEA, the bill would require the agency to develop writing assessments for grades five and eight, resulting in a $8.0 million cost in fiscal year 2020. This cost increase would be partially offset by $5.1 million in savings in fiscal year 2020 from eliminating the grade four and seven writing assessments. In subsequent fiscal years, the agency estimates that cost savings from eliminated assessments would be offset by costs related to the continued administration of the remaining assessments, including assessments that are required to be administered to students who failed to achieve a satisfactory score in the prior year.
This analysis assumes that savings from a decrease in the number of assessment administrations would be offset by costs associated with maintaining and administering tests to students who failed to achieve a the minimum score in the previous year and the optional assessments.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to school districts and charter schools is anticipated.