HB 8, Hse 2nd Rdg, Amnd #5

(1) Strike ARTICLE 1 of the bill (page 1, line 12, through page 19, line 27), and substitute the following:

ARTICLE 1. TEXAS COMMISSION ON STATE OF TEXAS ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC READINESS (STAAR) ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

SECTION 1.001. Chapter 39, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter N to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER N. TEXAS COMMISSION ON STATE OF TEXAS ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC READINESS (STAAR) ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

Sec. 39.451. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" means the Texas Commission on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) assessment program administered under this subchapter.

Sec. 39.452. TEXAS COMMISSION ON STATE OF TEXAS ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC READINESS (STAAR) ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. (a) The Texas Commission on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) assessment program is established to develop and make recommendations for eliminating the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) assessment program and implementing an alternative program for public school assessment and accountability.

(b) The commission is composed of 17 members, consisting of:

(1) four members appointed by the governor;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4) the chair and vice chair of the senate committee on education K-16 or the chair's or vice chair's designee;

(5) the chair of the house of representatives committee on public education or the chair's designee;

(6) the chair of the house of representatives committee on higher education or the chair's designee;

(7) a member of the State Board of Education, as designated by the chair of that board;

(8) a member of the Accountability Technical Advisory Committee established by rule, as designated by the chair of that committee; and

(9) a school district staff member who serves on the Texas Accountability Advisory Group established by rule.

(c) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the commission includes at least one of each of the following representatives:

(1) a parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student enrolled in a public school in this state;

(2) an educator employed by a school district or open-enrollment charter school with a student enrollment of 50,000 or more;

(3) an educator employed at a public school campus at which a large percentage of educationally disadvantaged students are enrolled;

(4) an educator employed by a rural school district;

(5) an educator employed by a fast-growth school district;

(6) a member of the business community;

(7) a member of the civic community; and

(8) a leader in research and policy in the areas of state and federal school accountability systems.

Sec. 39.453. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate the presiding officer of the commission.

Sec. 39.454. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.

Sec. 39.455. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support for the commission.

(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation to the agency for that purpose.

Sec. 39.456. RECOMMENDATIONS. The commission shall develop recommendations under this subchapter regarding the public school assessment and accountability systems, including recommendations for:

(1) eliminating the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) assessment program and implementing an alternative program that:

(A) uses effective tools to assess student progress;

(B) ensures accountability for each school district and open-enrollment charter school; and

(i) provide for progress monitoring;

(ii) are balanced, innovative, and streamlined;

(iii) are knowledge and skills-based;

(iv) measure a student's through-year academic growth;

(v) provide immediate, actionable, and useful information to an educator, a parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student, and the public; and

(vi) use multiple measures of academic readiness, including authentic assessment of student learning; and

(2) implementing policy changes necessary to establish a public school assessment and accountability system that:

(A) meets state goals for academic achievement;

(B) reduces testing requirements for students;

(D) promotes parental and community involvement; and

(E) reflects the unique needs of each community in this state.

Sec. 39.457. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall prepare and deliver to the governor and the legislature a report that recommends statutory changes to improve the public school assessment and accountability systems.

Sec. 39.458. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties under this subchapter.

(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code.

Sec. 39.459. ABOLITION; EXPIRATION. The commission is abolished and this subchapter expires January 1, 2027.

(2) On page 43, lines 3 and 4, strike "AND CHANGES RELATED TO TRANSITION OF ASSESSMENT PROGRAM".

(3) Strike page 43, line 5, through page 58, line 10.

(4) On page 58, line 23, strike "language arts".

(5) Strike page 58, line 25, through page 59, line 18.

(6) Renumber sections of Article 4 accordingly.

(7) On page 60, strike lines 5 through 16, and substitute the following:

SECTION 5.003. (a) Section 39.053(c-5), Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.