HB1323 - Relating to a standard and set of indicators in the academic accountability system.

      By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1323       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a standard and set of indicators in the academic   accountability system.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 39.053(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The commissioner shall adopt a set of indicators of the   quality of learning and achievement, including the indicators under   Subsection (c). The commissioner periodically shall review the   indicators for the consideration of appropriate revisions and   ensure a cut score necessary for a district to receive an "A".          (a-1)  The indicators adopted by the commissioner under   Subsection (a) must measure and evaluate school districts and   campuses with respect to:                (1)  improving student preparedness for success in:                      (A)  subsequent grade levels; and                      (B)  entering the workforce, the military, or   postsecondary education;                (2)  reducing, with the goal of eliminating, student   academic achievement differentials among students from different   racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds; and                (3)  informing parents and the community regarding   campus and district performance.          (b)  Performance on the achievement indicators adopted under   Subsection (c) shall be compared to state-established standards.   The indicators must be based on information that is disaggregated   by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.          (c)  School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on   three domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this   section that include:                (1)  in the student achievement domain, indicators of   student achievement that must include:                      (A)  for evaluating the performance of districts   and campuses generally:                            (i)  an indicator that accounts for the   results of assessment instruments required under Sections   39.023(a), (c), and (l), as applicable for the district and campus,   including the results of assessment instruments required for   graduation retaken by a student, aggregated across grade levels by   subject area, including:                                  (a)  for the performance standard   determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), the   percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the   assessment instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject   area; and                                  (b)  for the college readiness   performance standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the   percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the   assessment instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject   area; and                            (ii)  an indicator that accounts for the   results of assessment instruments required under Section   39.023(b), as applicable for the district and campus, including the   percentage of students who performed satisfactorily on the   assessment instruments, as determined by the performance standard   adopted by the agency, aggregated across grade levels by subject   area; and                      (B)  for evaluating the performance of high school   campuses and districts that include high school campuses,   indicators that account for:                            (i)  students who satisfy the Texas Success   Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the   Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334 on   an assessment instrument in reading or mathematics designated by   the coordinating board under that section;                            (ii)  students who satisfy relevant   performance standards on advanced placement tests or similar   assessments;                            (iii)  students who earn dual course credits   in the dual credit courses;                            (iv)  students who enlist in the armed   forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard;                            (v)  students who earn industry   certifications;                            (vi)  students admitted into postsecondary   industry certification programs that require as a prerequisite for   entrance successful performance at the secondary level;                            (vii)  students whose successful completion   of a course or courses under Section 28.014 indicates the student's   preparation to enroll and succeed, without remediation, in an   entry-level general education course for a baccalaureate degree or   associate degree;                            (viii)  students who successfully met   standards on a composite of indicators that through research   indicates the student's preparation to enroll and succeed, without   remediation, in an entry-level general education course for a   baccalaureate degree or associate degree;                            (ix)  high school graduation rates, computed   in accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance   with the Every Student Succeeds Act (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)   subject to the exclusions provided by Subsections (g), (g-1),   (g-2), (g-3), and (g-4);                            (x)  students who successfully completed an   OnRamps dual enrollment course;                            (xi)  students who successfully completed a   practicum or internship approved by the State Board of Education;                            (xii)  students who are awarded an associate   degree; and                            (xiii)  students who successfully completed   a program of study in career and technical education;                (2)  in the school progress domain, indicators for   effectiveness in promoting student learning, which must include:                      (A)  for assessment instruments, including   assessment instruments under Subdivisions (1)(A)(i) and (ii), the   percentage of students who met the standard for improvement, as   determined by the commissioner; and                      (B)  for evaluating relative performance, the   performance of districts and campuses compared to similar districts   or campuses; and                (3)  in the closing the gaps domain, the use of   disaggregated data to demonstrate the differentials among students   from different racial and ethnic groups, socioeconomic   backgrounds, and other factors, including:                      (A)  students formerly receiving special   education services;                      (B)  students continuously enrolled; and                      (C)  students who are mobile.          (c-1)  An indicator adopted under Subsection (c) that would   measure improvements in student achievement cannot negatively   affect the commissioner's review of a school district or campus if   that district or campus is already achieving at the highest level   for that indicator.          (c-2)  The commissioner by rule shall determine a method by   which a student's performance may be included in determining the   performance rating of a school district or campus under Section   39.054 if, before the student graduates, the student:                (1)  satisfies the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)   college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334 on an assessment   instrument designated by the coordinating board under that section;   or                (2)  performs satisfactorily on an assessment   instrument under Section 39.023(c), notwithstanding Subsection (d)   of this section.          (c-3)  Any standard for improvement determined by the   commissioner as described by Subsection (c)(2)(A) must allow for   appropriately crediting a student for growth if the student   performs at the highest achievement standard in the previous and   current school year.          (d)  For purposes of Subsection (c), the commissioner by rule   shall determine the period within which a student must retake an   assessment instrument for that assessment instrument to be   considered in determining the performance rating of the district   under Section 39.054.          (d-1)  In aggregating results of assessment instruments   across grade levels by subject in accordance with Subsection   (c)(1)(A)(i), the performance of a student enrolled below the high   school level on an assessment instrument required under Section   39.023(c) is included with results relating to other students   enrolled at the same grade level.          (e)  For purposes of Subsection (c)(3)(A), a student   formerly receiving special education services means a student whose   enrollment information:                (1)  for the preceding school year, as reported through   the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS),   indicates the student was enrolled at the campus and was   participating in a special education program; and                (2)  for the current school year, as reported through   the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) and as   reported on assessment instruments administered to the student   under Section 39.023, indicates the student is enrolled at the   campus and is not participating in a special education program.          (f)  Annually, the commissioner shall define the state   standard for the current school year for each achievement indicator   adopted under this section.  In consultation w [Text truncated for display. 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