HBA-KDB H.B. 3631 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3631
By: Turner, Sylvester
Public Education
4/2/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In recent years, the Texas school system has underdone dramatic changes in
implementing accountability measures in the form of the Texas Assessment of
Academic Skills (TAAS) test.  The next phase of Texas' long-term plan of
improvement is the implementation of the TAAS II exam starting in 2003.
However, there is concern, with the introduction of this new test, that the
percentage of students who do not pass the exam will increase temporarily,
as teachers and students learn how to address the new material.  House Bill
3631 provides more time for students and their teachers to prepare and
develop techniques to address the updated material in the assessment
instrument before satisfactory performance on the assessment instrument
becomes a requirement for promotion. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3631 amends the Education Code to modify the school year in
which students are required to perform satisfactorily on an assessment
instrument to advance to the next grade level from 2002 - 2003 to 2003 -
2004 for  students in the third grade, from 2004 - 2005 to 2005 - 2006 for
students in the fifth grade, and from 2007 - 2008 to 2008 - 2009 for
students in the eight grade. 
These provisions expire on September 1, 2009, rather than January 1, 2008.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.