HBA-LCA H.B. 1964 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1964
By: Howard
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In recent years, it has become more important for children to learn to read
at earlier ages.  H.B. 1964 includes pre-reading among those subjects that
the Texas Education Agency must adopt appropriate criterion-referenced
assessment instruments designed to assess competencies of students. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 39.023(a), Education Code, to include
pre-reading among the areas for which the Texas Education Agency (agency)
is required to adopt criterion-referenced assessment instruments.  Requires
assessment of students in pre-reading, including phoneme awareness, letter
sound knowledge, and letter knowledge, between pre-kindergarten and first
grade.  Redesignates Subdivisions 2-3 as Subdivisions 3-4. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year.  

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.