By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 5181
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a standard and set of indicators in the academic
  accountability system.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.053(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall adopt a set of indicators of the
  quality of learning and achievement, including the indicators under
  Subsection (c). The commissioner periodically shall review the
  indicators for the consideration of appropriate revisions and
  ensure a cut score necessary for a district to receive an "A".
         (a-1)  The indicators adopted by the commissioner under
  Subsection (a) must measure and evaluate school districts and
  campuses with respect to:
               (1)  improving student preparedness for success in:
                     (A)  subsequent grade levels; and
                     (B)  entering the workforce, the military, or
  postsecondary education;
               (2)  reducing, with the goal of eliminating, student
  academic achievement differentials among students from different
  racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds; and
               (3)  informing parents and the community regarding
  campus and district performance.
         (b)  Performance on the achievement indicators adopted under
  Subsection (c) shall be compared to state-established standards.
  The indicators must be based on information that is disaggregated
  by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
         (c)  School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on
  three domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this
  section that include:
               (1)  in the student achievement domain, indicators of
  student achievement that must include:
                     (A)  for evaluating the performance of districts
  and campuses generally:
                           (i)  an indicator that accounts for the
  results of assessment instruments required under Sections
  39.023(a), (c), and (l), as applicable for the district and campus,
  including the results of assessment instruments required for
  graduation retaken by a student, aggregated across grade levels by
  subject area, including:
                                 (a)  for the performance standard
  determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), the
  percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the
  assessment instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject
  area; and
                                 (b)  for the college readiness
  performance standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the
  percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the
  assessment instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject
  area; and
                           (ii)  an indicator that accounts for the
  results of assessment instruments required under Section
  39.023(b), as applicable for the district and campus, including the
  percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the
  assessment instruments, as determined by the performance standard
  adopted by the agency, aggregated across grade levels by subject
  area; and
                     (B)  for evaluating the performance of high school
  campuses and districts that include high school campuses,
  indicators that account for:
                           (i)  students who satisfy the Texas Success
  Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334 on
  an assessment instrument in reading or mathematics designated by
  the coordinating board under that section;
                           (ii)  students who satisfy relevant
  performance standards on advanced placement tests or similar
  assessments;
                           (iii)  students who earn dual course credits
  in the dual credit courses;
                           (iv)  students who enlist in the armed
  forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard;
                           (v)  students who earn industry
  certifications;
                           (vi)  students admitted into postsecondary
  industry certification programs that require as a prerequisite for
  entrance successful performance at the secondary level;
                           (vii)  students whose successful completion
  of a course or courses under Section 28.014 indicates the student's
  preparation to enroll and succeed, without remediation, in an
  entry-level general education course for a baccalaureate degree or
  associate degree;
                           (viii)  students who successfully met
  standards on a composite of indicators that through research
  indicates the student's preparation to enroll and succeed, without
  remediation, in an entry-level general education course for a
  baccalaureate degree or associate degree;
                           (ix)  high school graduation rates, computed
  in accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance
  with the Every Student Succeeds Act (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)
  subject to the exclusions provided by Subsections (g), (g-1),
  (g-2), (g-3), and (g-4);
                           (x)  students who successfully completed an
  OnRamps dual enrollment course;
                           (xi)  students who successfully completed a
  practicum or internship approved by the State Board of Education;
                           (xii)  students who are awarded an associate
  degree; and
                           (xiii)  students who successfully completed
  a program of study in career and technical education;
               (2)  in the school progress domain, indicators for
  effectiveness in promoting student learning, which must include:
                     (A)  for assessment instruments, including
  assessment instruments under Subdivisions (1)(A)(i) and (ii), the
  percentage of students who met the standard for improvement, as
  determined by the commissioner; and
                     (B)  for evaluating relative performance, the
  performance of districts and campuses compared to similar districts
  or campuses; and
               (3)  in the closing the gaps domain, the use of
  disaggregated data to demonstrate the differentials among students
  from different racial and ethnic groups, socioeconomic
  backgrounds, and other factors, including:
                     (A)  students formerly receiving special
  education services;
                     (B)  students continuously enrolled; and
                     (C)  students who are mobile.
         (c-1)  An indicator adopted under Subsection (c) that would
  measure improvements in student achievement cannot negatively
  affect the commissioner's review of a school district or campus if
  that district or campus is already achieving at the highest level
  for that indicator.
         (c-2)  The commissioner by rule shall determine a method by
  which a student's performance may be included in determining the
  performance rating of a school district or campus under Section
  39.054 if, before the student graduates, the student:
               (1)  satisfies the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
  college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334 on an assessment
  instrument designated by the coordinating board under that section;
  or
               (2)  performs satisfactorily on an assessment
  instrument under Section 39.023(c), notwithstanding Subsection (d)
  of this section.
         (c-3)  Any standard for improvement determined by the
  commissioner as described by Subsection (c)(2)(A) must allow for
  appropriately crediting a student for growth if the student
  performs at the highest achievement standard in the previous and
  current school year.
         (d)  For purposes of Subsection (c), the commissioner by rule
  shall determine the period within which a student must retake an
  assessment instrument for that assessment instrument to be
  considered in determining the performance rating of the district
  under Section 39.054.
         (d-1)  In aggregating results of assessment instruments
  across grade levels by subject in accordance with Subsection
  (c)(1)(A)(i), the performance of a student enrolled below the high
  school level on an assessment instrument required under Section
  39.023(c) is included with results relating to other students
  enrolled at the same grade level.
         (e)  For purposes of Subsection (c)(3)(A), a student
  formerly receiving special education services means a student whose
  enrollment information:
               (1)  for the preceding school year, as reported through
  the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS),
  indicates the student was enrolled at the campus and was
  participating in a special education program; and
               (2)  for the current school year, as reported through
  the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) and as
  reported on assessment instruments administered to the student
  under Section 39.023, indicates the student is enrolled at the
  campus and is not participating in a special education program.
         (f)  Annually, the commissioner shall define the state
  standard for the current school year for each achievement indicator
  adopted under this section. In consultation with educators,
  parents, and business and industry representatives, as necessary,
  the commissioner shall establish and modify standards to
  continuously improve student performance to achieve the goals of
  eliminating achievement gaps based on race, ethnicity, and
  socioeconomic status and to ensure this state is a national leader
  in preparing students for postsecondary success.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTOIN 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.