HBA-TBM C.S.H.B. 1144 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1144 By: Grusendorf Public Education 3/27/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1993, the Texas Legislature mandated the creation of the Texas public school accountability system to accredit school districts and rate schools. The Texas school accountability system has gained acclaim as one of the best in the nation, but the system can be improved. C.S.H.B. 1144 authorizes participation in multistate efforts to develop voluntary standardized assessment instruments and establishes new ratings for schools and districts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in SECTION 2 (Section 39.023, Education Code) and SECTION 3 (Section 39.0721, Education Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1144 amends the Education Code relating to public school accountability. Coordination of Records The bill requires the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education to ensure that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) coordinate and standardize records relating to student performance to permit TEA and THECB to match individual student records so that a student's academic performance may be assessed throughout the student's educational career. Voluntary Standardized Assessment Instruments The bill authorizes the commissioner to participate in multistate efforts to develop voluntary standardized end-of-course assessment instruments. The bill authorizes the commissioner, by rule, to require a school district to administer such assessment instruments. It also requires the admission, review, and dismissal committee of a special education student to determine whether any modifications or exemptions are necessary for the student. The bill requires TEA to release the questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument after the last time the instrument is administered for a school year. The bill requires the commissioner to develop a standardized end-of-course assessment instrument for Algebra I. The commissioner by rule may require a school district to administer the instrument. The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in a special education program is required to determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to the student the instrument or whether the student should be exempted. Voluntary Gold Performance Rating Program The bill requires the commissioner, in consultation with an advisory committee appointed by the commissioner, to develop a voluntary gold performance rating program administered by the TEA. The bill specifies the criteria to be used to determine voluntary gold performance ratings. The bill requires the commissioner to appoint the advisory committee no later than March 1, 2002 and to adopt any rules necessary for implementation and administration of the program no later than March 30, 2006. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1144 differs from the original by requiring the commissioner of education to adopt a standardized end-of-course assessment instrument for Algebra I and setting forth provisions for the administration of the instrument. The substitute removes provisions relating to a declaration of emergency status at lowperforming campuses and campus bonus allotments.