BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3346

By: Meza

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) uses an A-F academic accountability rating system and the student achievement domain, which relies heavily on STAAR test results for elementary and middle schools. The current difficulty with TEA methodology is that, for elementary and middle schools, STAAR testing counts for 100 percent of the student achievement domain score. However, for high schools and for school districts overall, STAAR test results only count for 40 percent while college, career, and military readiness outcomes and graduation rates count for the rest of the student achievement domain score. Educators and legislators have attempted numerous times to petition TEA to include other non-test-based indicators of achievement for elementary and middle schools. H.B. 3346 seeks to solve the long‑standing complaint about the A‑F academic accountability rating system and the student achievement domain regarding their overreliance on STAAR test results for elementary and middle schools.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3346 amends the Education Code to require the performance of public elementary, middle school, and junior high campuses and districts to be evaluated in the student achievement domain based on an indicator that accounts for improving student preparedness for success in subsequent grade levels that is measured by meeting standards, adopted by commissioner of education rule, other than test performance. The bill requires the commissioner, in evaluating the performance of elementary, middle school, and junior high campuses and districts, to give equal weight to such an indicator and to an indicator that accounts for the results of statewide standardized tests. The bill applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.