bill swaps ACT-Plan for PreACT in the Education Code

The text as introduced · 628 words

89R8295 BCH-D

By: Ashby
H.B. No. 3797

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the terminology used to refer to certain assessment

instruments administered to public school students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 39.025(a-2), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a-2) The commissioner shall determine a method by which a

student's satisfactory performance on an advanced placement test,

an international baccalaureate examination, an SAT Subject Test,

the SAT, the ACT, or any nationally recognized norm-referenced

assessment instrument used by institutions of higher education to

award course credit based on satisfactory performance on the

assessment instrument shall be used to satisfy the requirements

concerning an end-of-course assessment instrument in an equivalent

course as prescribed by Subsection (a). The commissioner shall

determine a method by which a student's satisfactory performance on

the PSAT or the PreACT [ ACT-Plan ] shall be used to satisfy the

requirements concerning an end-of-course assessment instrument in

an equivalent course as prescribed by Subsection (a). A student who

fails to perform satisfactorily on a test or other assessment

instrument authorized under this subsection, other than the PSAT or

the PreACT [ ACT-Plan ], may retake that test or other assessment

instrument for purposes of this subsection or may take the

appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument. A student who

fails to perform satisfactorily on the PSAT or the PreACT

[ ACT-Plan ] must take the appropriate end-of-course assessment

instrument. The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for

the administration of this subsection.

SECTION 2. Section 39.0263(c), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(c) The prohibition prescribed by this section does not

apply to the administration of a college preparation assessment

instrument, including the PSAT, the PreACT [ ACT-Plan ], the SAT, or

the ACT, an advanced placement test, an international baccalaureate

examination, or an independent classroom examination designed or

adopted and administered by a classroom teacher.

SECTION 3. Section 39.202, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 39.202. ACADEMIC DISTINCTION DESIGNATION FOR

DISTRICTS AND CAMPUSES. The commissioner by rule shall establish

an academic distinction designation for districts and campuses for

outstanding performance in attainment of postsecondary readiness.

The commissioner shall adopt criteria for the designation under

this section, including:

(1) percentages of students who:

(A) performed satisfactorily, as determined

under the college readiness performance standard under Section

39.0241, on assessment instruments required under Section

39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l), aggregated across grade levels by

subject area; or

(B) met the standard for annual improvement, as

determined by the agency under Section 39.034, on assessment

instruments required under Section 39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l),

aggregated across grade levels by subject area, for students who

did not perform satisfactorily as described by Paragraph (A);

(2) percentages of:

(A) students who earned a nationally or

internationally recognized business or industry certification or

license;

(B) students who completed a coherent sequence of

career and technical courses;

(C) students who completed a dual credit course

or an articulated postsecondary course provided for local credit;

(D) students who achieved applicable College

Readiness Benchmarks or the equivalent on the Preliminary

Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), the Scholastic Assessment Test

(SAT), the American College Test (ACT), or the PreACT [ ACT-Plan ]

assessment program; and

(E) students who received a score on either an

advanced placement test or an international baccalaureate

examination to be awarded college credit; and

(3) other factors for determining sufficient student

attainment of postsecondary readiness.

SECTION 4. 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.