bill rewriting the A-F school rating rules

The text as introduced · 1,303 words

By: Hinojosa
H.B. No. 1323

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.

SECTION 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, 2025.