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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a committee to recommend a new system |
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for student assessment and public school accountability. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 39, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter N to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER N. TEXAS COMMISSION ON NEXT GENERATION ASSESSMENTS AND |
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ACCOUNTABILITY |
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Sec. 39.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and |
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Accountability. |
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Sec. 39.502. TEXAS COMMISSION ON NEXT GENERATION |
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ASSESSMENTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) The Texas Commission on Next |
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Generation Assessments and Accountability is established to |
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develop and make recommendations for new systems of student |
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assessment and public school accountability. |
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(b) The commission is composed of: |
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(1) seven members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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and |
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(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives. |
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(c) In making appointments under this section, at least one |
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person must be appointed to represent each of the following groups: |
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(1) a parent or person standing in parental relation |
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to a student enrolled in the public school system; |
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(2) an educator in the public school system; |
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(3) a member of the business community; |
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(4) a member of the civic community; |
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(5) a leader in student assessment development and |
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use; and |
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(6) a leader in research concerning student assessment |
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and education outcomes. |
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Sec. 39.503. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate the presiding officer of the commission. |
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Sec. 39.504. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 39.505. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) |
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Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support |
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for the commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency |
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for that purpose. |
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Sec. 39.506. RECOMMENDATIONS. The commission shall develop |
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recommendations under this subchapter to address: |
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(1) the purpose of a state accountability system and |
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the role of student assessment in that system; |
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(2) opportunities to assess students that: |
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(A) provide actionable information for a parent |
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or person standing in parental relation to a student, an educator, |
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and the public; |
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(B) support learning activities; |
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(C) recognize application of skills and |
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knowledge; |
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(D) measure student educational growth toward |
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mastery; and |
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(E) value critical thinking; |
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(3) alignment of state performance standards with |
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college and career readiness requirements in collaboration with the |
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Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board; and |
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(4) policy changes necessary to enable a student to |
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progress through subject matter and grade levels on demonstration |
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of mastery. |
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Sec. 39.507. REPORT. The commission shall prepare and |
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deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that |
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recommends statutory changes to improve systems of student |
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assessment and public school accountability not later than December |
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1, 2016. |
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Sec. 39.508. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its |
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duties under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 39.509. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. (a) The commission is abolished January 1, 2017. |
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(b) This subchapter expires January 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |