Texas Education Code § 39.023 Adoption And Administration Of Instruments

Sec. 39.023. ADOPTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF INSTRUMENTS.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:

(1) mathematics, annually in grades three through seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;

(2) reading, annually in grades three through eight;

(3) writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;

(4) social studies, in grade eight;

(5) science, in grades five and eight; and

(6) any other subject and grade required by federal law.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:

(1) mathematics, in grades three and five without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;

(2) reading, in grades three, five, and eight;

(3) writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;

(4) social studies, in grade eight; and

(5) science, in grades five and eight.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(a) The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), all students, other than students assessed under Subsection (b) or (l) or exempted under Section 39.027, shall be assessed in:

(1) mathematics, annually in grades three through seven without the aid of technology and in grade eight with the aid of technology on any assessment instrument that includes algebra;

(2) reading, annually in grades three through eight;

(3) writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades four and seven;

(4) social studies, in grade eight;

(5) science, in grades five and eight; and

(6) any other subject and grade required by federal law.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(a-1) The agency shall develop assessment instruments required under Subsection (a) in a manner that allows, to the extent practicable:

(1) the score a student receives to provide reliable information relating to a student's satisfactory performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241; and

(2) an appropriate range of performances to serve as a valid indication of growth in student achievement.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(a-1) The agency shall develop assessment instruments required under Subsections (a), (a-4), (a-5), and (a-6) in a manner that allows, to the extent practicable:

(1) the score a student receives to provide reliable information relating to a student's satisfactory performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241; and

(2) an appropriate range of performances to serve as a valid indication of growth in student achievement.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(a-1) The agency shall develop assessment instruments required under Subsection (a) in a manner that allows, to the extent practicable:

(1) the score a student receives to provide reliable information relating to a student's satisfactory performance for each performance standard under Section 39.0241; and

(2) an appropriate range of performances to serve as a valid indication of growth in student achievement.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(a-2) Except as required by federal law, a student is not required to be assessed in a subject otherwise assessed at the student's grade level under Subsection (a) if the student:

(1) is enrolled in a course in the subject intended for students above the student's grade level and will be administered an assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) that aligns with the curriculum for the course in which the student is enrolled; or

(2) is enrolled in a course in the subject for which the student will receive high school academic credit and will be administered an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (c) for the course.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(a-2) Except as required by federal law, a student is not required to be assessed in a subject otherwise assessed at the student's grade level under Subsection (a) if the student:

(1) is enrolled in a course in the subject intended for students above the student's grade level and will be administered an assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a), (a-4), (a-5), or (a-6) that aligns with the curriculum for the course in which the student is enrolled; or

(2) is enrolled in a course in the subject for which the student will receive high school academic credit and will be administered an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (c) for the course.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(a-2) Except as required by federal law, a student is not required to be assessed in a subject otherwise assessed at the student's grade level under Subsection (a) if the student:

(1) is enrolled in a course in the subject intended for students above the student's grade level and will be administered an assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) that aligns with the curriculum for the course in which the student is enrolled; or

(2) is enrolled in a course in the subject for which the student will receive high school academic credit and will be administered an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (c) for the course.

Text of subsection as added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 861, Sec. 2, effective June 14, 2013


(a-3) The agency may not adopt or develop a criterion-referenced assessment instrument under this section based on common core state standards as defined by Section 28.002(b-1). This subsection does not prohibit the use of college advanced placement tests or international baccalaureate examinations as those terms are defined by Section 28.051.

Text of subsection as added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1267, Sec. 1, effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(a-3) For each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a) or (a-5), the agency shall determine, based on available information for that assessment instrument, the minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score. The minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score is the sum of the scale score that indicates satisfactory performance on that assessment instrument, as determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), plus the minimum number of points that when added to the scale score produces a score that, within a three percent margin of error, is predictive that a student achieving that score would achieve satisfactory performance on an assessment instrument in the same subject administered to the student during the following school year.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(a-4) A student shall be assessed in grade four in a subject for which an assessment instrument is administered under Subsection (a) in grade three if, on the final assessment instrument in that subject administered under Subsection (a) to the student in grade three during the preceding school year, the student did not achieve a score equal to or greater than the minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score for that assessment instrument, as determined under Subsection (a-3).

(a-5) A student shall be assessed in grade six in a subject for which an assessment instrument is administered under Subsection (a) in grade five if, on the final assessment instrument in that subject administered under Subsection (a) to the student in grade five during the preceding school year, the student did not achieve a score equal to or greater than the minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score for that assessment instrument, as determined under Subsection (a-3).

(a-6) A student shall be assessed in grade seven in a subject for which an assessment instrument was administered under Subsection (a-5) to the student in grade six if, on the final assessment instrument in that subject administered to the student in grade six during the preceding school year, the student did not achieve a score equal to or greater than the minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score for that assessment instrument, as determined under Subsection (a-3).

(a-7) A student assessed in mathematics under Subsection (a-4), (a-5), or (a-6) shall be assessed without the aid of technology.

(a-8) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may, for its own use in determining whether students are performing at a satisfactory level, administer to a student at the appropriate grade level, other than a student required to be assessed, an assessment instrument developed for purposes of Subsection (a-4), (a-5), or (a-6). At the request of a district or open-enrollment charter school, the agency shall provide, allow for the administration of, and score each assessment instrument administered under this subsection in the same manner and at the same cost as for assessment instruments required to be administered under the applicable subsection. The results of an assessment instrument administered under this subsection may not be included as an indicator of achievement under Section 39.053 or any other provision.

(a-9) If there is a conflict between this section and a federal law or regulation as a result of forgoing under this section certain administration of assessment instruments to students who have recently performed successfully on assessment instruments assessing the same subject, the commissioner shall seek a waiver from the application of the conflicting federal law or regulation. In seeking a waiver, the commissioner shall submit all relevant data, including data relating to:

(1) the likelihood that a student who achieves a score on an assessment instrument equal to or greater than the minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score for that assessment instrument, as determined under Subsection (a-3), will, in subsequent years, perform satisfactorily on assessment instruments in the same subject;

(2) the costs associated with ongoing assessment of students who have proven likely to perform successfully on subsequent assessment instruments; and

(3) the benefit of redirecting resources from assessment of students who have proven likely to perform successfully on subsequent assessment instruments toward enabling lower performing students to perform successfully on assessment instruments after one school year.

(a-10) This subsection and Subsections (a-3), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (a-7), (a-8), and (a-9) expire September 1, 2017.

(a-11) Before an assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) may be administered under that subsection, the assessment instrument must, on the basis of empirical evidence, be determined to be valid and reliable by an entity that is independent of the agency and of any other entity that developed the assessment instrument.

(a-12) An assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) must be designed so that:

(1) if administered to students in grades three through five, 85 percent of students will be able to complete the assessment instrument within 120 minutes; and

(2) if administered to students in grades six through eight, 85 percent of students will be able to complete the assessment instrument within 180 minutes.

(a-13) The amount of time allowed for administration of an assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) may not exceed eight hours, and the administration may occur on only one day.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(b) The agency shall develop or adopt appropriate criterion-referenced alternative assessment instruments to be administered to each student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, for whom an assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (a), even with allowable accommodations, would not provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee, including assessment instruments approved by the commissioner that measure growth. The assessment instruments developed or adopted under this subsection, including the assessment instruments approved by the commissioner, must, to the extent allowed under federal law, provide a district with options for the assessment of students under this subsection. The agency may not adopt a performance standard that indicates that a student's performance on the alternate assessment does not meet standards if the lowest level of the assessment accurately represents the student's developmental level as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(b) The agency shall develop or adopt appropriate criterion-referenced alternative assessment instruments to be administered to a student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, for whom an assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (a) or, to the extent applicable, Subsection (a-4), (a-5), or (a-6), even with allowable accommodations, would not provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee, including assessment instruments approved by the commissioner that measure growth. The assessment instruments developed or adopted under this subsection, including the assessment instruments approved by the commissioner, must, to the extent allowed under federal law, provide a district with options for the assessment of students under this subsection. The agency may not adopt a performance standard that indicates that a student's performance on the alternate assessment does not meet standards if the lowest level of the assessment accurately represents the student's developmental level as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(b) The agency shall develop or adopt appropriate criterion-referenced alternative assessment instruments to be administered to each student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, for whom an assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (a), even with allowable accommodations, would not provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee, including assessment instruments approved by the commissioner that measure growth. The assessment instruments developed or adopted under this subsection, including the assessment instruments approved by the commissioner, must, to the extent allowed under federal law, provide a district with options for the assessment of students under this subsection. The agency may not adopt a performance standard that indicates that a student's performance on the alternate assessment does not meet standards if the lowest level of the assessment accurately represents the student's developmental level as determined by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee.

(b-1) The agency, in conjunction with appropriate interested persons, shall redevelop assessment instruments adopted or developed under Subsection (b) for administration to significantly cognitively disabled students in a manner consistent with federal law. An assessment instrument under this subsection may not require a teacher to prepare tasks or materials for a student who will be administered such an assessment instrument. Assessment instruments adopted or developed under this subsection shall be administered not later than the 2014-2015 school year.

(c) The agency shall also adopt end-of-course assessment instruments for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, biology, English I, English II, and United States history. The Algebra I end-of-course assessment instrument must be administered with the aid of technology. The English I and English II end-of-course assessment instruments must each assess essential knowledge and skills in both reading and writing in the same assessment instrument and must provide a single score. A school district shall comply with State Board of Education rules regarding administration of the assessment instruments listed in this subsection. If a student is in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee shall determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to the student an assessment instrument required under this subsection. The State Board of Education shall administer the assessment instruments. The State Board of Education shall adopt a schedule for the administration of end-of-course assessment instruments that complies with the requirements of Subsection (c-3).

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(c-1) The agency shall develop any assessment instrument required under this section in a manner that allows for the measurement of annual improvement in student achievement as required by Sections 39.034(c) and (d).

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(c-1) To the greatest extent practicable, the agency shall develop any assessment instrument required under this section in a manner that allows for the measurement of annual improvement in student achievement as required by Sections 39.034(c) and (d).

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(c-1) The agency shall develop any assessment instrument required under this section in a manner that allows for the measurement of annual improvement in student achievement as required by Sections 39.034(c) and (d).

(c-2) The agency may adopt end-of-course assessment instruments for courses not listed in Subsection (c). A student's performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under this subsection is not subject to the performance requirements established under Subsection (c) or Section 39.025.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(c-3) In adopting a schedule for the administration of assessment instruments under this section, the State Board of Education shall require:

(1) assessment instruments administered under Subsection (a) to be administered on a schedule so that the first assessment instrument is administered at least two weeks later than the date on which the first assessment instrument was administered under Subsection (a) during the 2006-2007 school year; and

(2) the spring administration of end-of-course assessment instruments under Subsection (c) to occur in each school district not earlier than the first full week in May, except that the spring administration of the end-of-course assessment instruments in English I and English II must be permitted to occur at an earlier date.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(c-3) In adopting a schedule for the administration of assessment instruments under this section, the State Board of Education shall require:

(1) assessment instruments administered under Subsections (a), (a-4), (a-5), and (a-6) to be administered on a schedule so that the first assessment instrument is administered at least two weeks later than the date on which the first assessment instrument was administered under Subsection (a) during the 2006-2007 school year; and

(2) the spring administration of end-of-course assessment instruments under Subsection (c) to occur in each school district not earlier than the first full week in May, except that the spring administration of the end-of-course assessment instruments in English I and English II must be permitted to occur at an earlier date.

Text of subsection effective on September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(c-3) In adopting a schedule for the administration of assessment instruments under this section, the State Board of Education shall require:

(1) assessment instruments administered under Subsection (a) to be administered on a schedule so that the first assessment instrument is administered at least two weeks later than the date on which the first assessment instrument was administered under Subsection (a) during the 2006-2007 school year; and

(2) the spring administration of end-of-course assessment instruments under Subsection (c) to occur in each school district not earlier than the first full week in May, except that the spring administration of the end-of-course assessment instruments in English I and English II must be permitted to occur at an earlier date.

(c-4) To the extent practicable and subject to Section 39.024, the agency shall ensure that each end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (c) is:

(1) developed in a manner that measures a student's performance under the college readiness standards established under Section 28.008; and

(2) validated by national postsecondary education experts for college readiness content and performance standards.

(c-5) A student's performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument required under Subsection (c) must be included in the student's academic achievement record.

(c-6) In adopting an end-of-course assessment instrument under this section, the agency shall consider the use of an existing assessment instrument that is currently available. The agency may use an existing assessment instrument that is currently available only if the assessment instrument:

(1) is aligned with the essential knowledge and skills of the subject being assessed; and

(2) allows for the measurement of annual improvement in student achievement as provided by Subsection (c-1).

(d) The commissioner may participate in multistate efforts to develop voluntary standardized end-of-course assessment instruments. The commissioner by rule may require a school district to administer an end-of-course assessment instrument developed through the multistate efforts. The admission, review, and dismissal committee of a student in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, shall determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to the student an end-of-course assessment instrument.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(e) Under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, every third year, the agency shall release the questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (l), excluding any assessment instrument administered to a student for the purpose of retaking the assessment instrument, after the last time the instrument is administered for that school year. To ensure a valid bank of questions for use each year, the agency is not required to release a question that is being field-tested and was not used to compute the student's score on the instrument. The agency shall also release, under board rule, each question that is no longer being field-tested and that was not used to compute a student's score. During the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the agency shall release the questions and answer keys to assessment instruments as described by this subsection each year.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(e) Under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, every third year, the agency shall release the questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (b), (c), (d), or (l), excluding any assessment instrument administered to a student for the purpose of retaking the assessment instrument, after the last time the instrument is administered for that school year. To ensure a valid bank of questions for use each year, the agency is not required to release a question that is being field-tested and was not used to compute the student's score on the instrument. The agency shall also release, under board rule, each question that is no longer being field-tested and that was not used to compute a student's score. During the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the agency shall release the questions and answer keys to assessment instruments as described by this subsection each year.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(e) Under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, every third year, the agency shall release the questions and answer keys to each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (l), excluding any assessment instrument administered to a student for the purpose of retaking the assessment instrument, after the last time the instrument is administered for that school year. To ensure a valid bank of questions for use each year, the agency is not required to release a question that is being field-tested and was not used to compute the student's score on the instrument. The agency shall also release, under board rule, each question that is no longer being field-tested and that was not used to compute a student's score. During the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the agency shall release the questions and answer keys to assessment instruments as described by this subsection each year.

(e-1) The agency may defer releasing assessment instrument questions and answer keys as required by Subsection (e) to the extent necessary to develop additional assessment instruments.

(f) The assessment instruments shall be designed to include assessment of a student's problem-solving ability and complex-thinking skills using a method of assessing those abilities and skills that is demonstrated to be highly reliable.

(g) The State Board of Education may adopt one appropriate, nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument in reading and mathematics to be administered to a selected sample of students in the spring. If adopted, a norm-referenced assessment instrument must be a secured test. The state may pay the costs of purchasing and scoring the adopted assessment instrument and of distributing the results of the adopted instrument to the school districts. A district that administers the norm-referenced test adopted under this subsection shall report the results to the agency in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.

(h) The agency shall notify school districts and campuses of the results of assessment instruments administered under this section not later than the 21st day after the date the assessment instrument is administered. The school district shall disclose to each district teacher the results of assessment instruments administered to students taught by the teacher in the subject for the school year in which the assessment instrument is administered.

(i) The provisions of this section, except Subsection (d), are subject to modification by rules adopted under Section 39.022. Each assessment instrument adopted under those rules and each assessment instrument required under Subsection (d) must be reliable and valid and must meet any applicable federal requirements for measurement of student progress.

(j) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1312, Sec. 18, eff. September 1, 2007.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(l) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the administration of the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a) in Spanish to students in grades three through five who are of limited English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052, whose primary language is Spanish, and who are not otherwise exempt from the administration of an assessment instrument under Section 39.027(a)(1) or (2). Each student of limited English proficiency whose primary language is Spanish, other than a student to whom Subsection (b) applies, may be assessed using assessment instruments in Spanish under this subsection for up to three years or assessment instruments in English under Subsection (a). The language proficiency assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall determine which students are administered assessment instruments in Spanish under this subsection.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(l) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the administration of the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a) and, to the extent applicable, the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a-4) in Spanish to students in grades three, four, and five who are of limited English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052, whose primary language is Spanish, and who are not otherwise exempt from the administration of an assessment instrument under Section 39.027(a)(1) or (2). Each student of limited English proficiency whose primary language is Spanish, other than a student to whom Subsection (b) applies, may be assessed using assessment instruments in Spanish under this subsection for up to three years or assessment instruments in English under Subsection (a) and, as applicable, Subsection (a-4). The language proficiency assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall determine which students are administered assessment instruments in Spanish under this subsection.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(l) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the administration of the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a) in Spanish to students in grades three through five who are of limited English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052, whose primary language is Spanish, and who are not otherwise exempt from the administration of an assessment instrument under Section 39.027(a)(1) or (2). Each student of limited English proficiency whose primary language is Spanish, other than a student to whom Subsection (b) applies, may be assessed using assessment instruments in Spanish under this subsection for up to three years or assessment instruments in English under Subsection (a). The language proficiency assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall determine which students are administered assessment instruments in Spanish under this subsection.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(m) The commissioner by rule shall develop procedures under which the language proficiency assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall determine which students are exempt from the administration of the assessment instruments under Section 39.027(a)(1) or (2). The rules adopted under this subsection shall ensure that the language proficiency assessment committee provides that the exempted students are administered the assessment instruments under Subsections (a) and (c) at the earliest practical date.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(m) The commissioner by rule shall develop procedures under which the language proficiency assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall determine which students are exempt from the administration of the assessment instruments under Section 39.027(a)(1) or (2). The rules adopted under this subsection shall ensure that the language proficiency assessment committee provides that the exempted students are administered the assessment instruments under Subsections (a) and (c) and, to the extent applicable, Subsections (a-4), (a-5), and (a-6) at the earliest practical date.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(m) The commissioner by rule shall develop procedures under which the language proficiency assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall determine which students are exempt from the administration of the assessment instruments under Section 39.027(a)(1) or (2). The rules adopted under this subsection shall ensure that the language proficiency assessment committee provides that the exempted students are administered the assessment instruments under Subsections (a) and (c) at the earliest practical date.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(n) This subsection applies only to a student who is determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder and who is an individual with a disability under 29 U.S.C. Section 705(20) and its subsequent amendments. The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess the ability of and to be administered to each student to whom this subsection applies for whom the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a), even with allowable modifications, would not provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as determined by the committee established by the board of trustees of the district to determine the placement of students with dyslexia or related disorders. The committee shall determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to a student an assessment instrument required under this subsection. The assessment instruments required under this subsection shall be administered on the same schedule as the assessment instruments administered under Subsection (a).

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(n) This subsection applies only to a student who is determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder and who is an individual with a disability under 29 U.S.C. Section 705(20) and its subsequent amendments. The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess the ability of and to be administered to each student to whom this subsection applies for whom the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a) and, to the extent applicable, the assessment instruments adopted under Subsections (a-4), (a-5), and (a-6), even with allowable modifications, would not provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as determined by the committee established by the board of trustees of the district to determine the placement of students with dyslexia or related disorders. The committee shall determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to a student an assessment instrument required under this subsection. The assessment instruments required under this subsection shall be administered on the same schedule as the assessment instruments administered under Subsections (a), (a-4), (a-5), and (a-6), as applicable.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(n) This subsection applies only to a student who is determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder and who is an individual with a disability under 29 U.S.C. Section 705(20) and its subsequent amendments. The agency shall adopt or develop appropriate criterion-referenced assessment instruments designed to assess the ability of and to be administered to each student to whom this subsection applies for whom the assessment instruments adopted under Subsection (a), even with allowable modifications, would not provide an appropriate measure of student achievement, as determined by the committee established by the board of trustees of the district to determine the placement of students with dyslexia or related disorders. The committee shall determine whether any allowable modification is necessary in administering to a student an assessment instrument required under this subsection. The assessment instruments required under this subsection shall be administered on the same schedule as the assessment instruments administered under Subsection (a).

(o) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 , Sec. 5(1), eff. June 18, 2015.

Text of subsection effective until on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information


(p) On or before September 1 of each year, the commissioner shall make the following information available on the agency's Internet website for each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a), (c), or (l):

(1) the number of questions on the assessment instrument;

(2) the number of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve satisfactory performance as determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a);

(3) the number of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve satisfactory performance under the college readiness performance standard as provided by Section 39.0241; and

(4) the corresponding scale scores.

Text of subsection effective on or before September 1, 2015; see note following section for effective date information; effective until September 1, 2017


(p) On or before September 1 of each year, the commissioner shall make the following information available on the agency's Internet website for each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (c), or (l):

(1) the number of questions on the assessment instrument;

(2) the number of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve satisfactory performance as determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a);

(3) the number of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve satisfactory performance under the college readiness performance standard as provided by Section 39.0241; and

(4) the corresponding scale scores.

Text of subsection effective September 1, 2017; see note following section for effective date information


(p) On or before September 1 of each year, the commissioner shall make the following information available on the agency's Internet website for each assessment instrument administered under Subsection (a), (c), or (l):

(1) the number of questions on the assessment instrument;

(2) the number of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve satisfactory performance as determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a);

(3) the number of questions that must be answered correctly to achieve satisfactory performance under the college readiness performance standard as provided by Section 39.0241; and

(4) the corresponding scale scores.

Section 3(a), Chapter 1267 (H.B. 866), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, provides that certain amendments to Section 39.023 take effect on any date not later than September 1, 2015, on which the commissioner of education:

(1) obtains any necessary waiver from the application of federal law or regulation conflicting with Section 39.023, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as required by Section 39.023(a-9), Education Code, as added by this Act; or

(2) receives written notification from the United States Department of Education that a waiver is not required.

On July 17, 2013, commissioner of education Michael Williams wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan inquiring whether the U.S. Department of Education would grant a waiver of certain assessment and accountability provisions of Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to permit the implementation of the changes to annual assessment in grades 3 through 8 proposed by Section 1, Chapter 1267 (H.B. 866). In a response dated September 6, 2013, Deborah S. Delisle, Assistant Secretary of Education, wrote in part:

Section 9401 of the ESEA authorizes the Secretary to grant a waiver of most provisions of the ESEA if the waiver would increase the quality of instruction and improve the academic achievement of students. Secretary Duncan has delegated authority for waivers to me and, thus, I have reviewed the request. After careful review of the provided information in your letter, our team has determined that a waiver of the ESEA provisions requiring the annual assessment of students in grades 3 through 8 do not meet the statutory threshold for approval. Annual assessment of all students in grades 3 through 8 is critical to holding schools and LEAs [local education authorities] accountable for improving the achievement of all students and to providing transparency on LEA, school, and student performance to families, communities, and other stakeholders. Therefore, should the TEA submit such a request, I would decline to exercise my authority to grant a waiver of the provisions you have identified.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 767, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 397, Sec. 3, 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 8, Sec. 1, eff. April 11, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 834, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 201, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 430, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 433, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1212, Sec. 11, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1275, Sec. 2(20), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1312 (S.B. 1031), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1312 (S.B. 1031), Sec. 18, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 (H.B. 3), Sec. 50, eff. June 19, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 307 (H.B. 2135), Sec. 3, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 211 (H.B. 5), Sec. 31(a), eff. June 10, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 590 (S.B. 906), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 462), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1267 (H.B. 866), Sec. 1.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1267 (H.B. 866), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 2349), Sec. 2, eff. June 18, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 2349), Sec. 5(1), eff. June 18, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1006 (H.B. 743), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2804), Sec. 13, eff. June 19, 2015.

For expiration of this section, see Subsection (j).


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