H.B. No. 1164

	AN ACT
	relating to requiring the Texas Education Agency to conduct a study
	to develop a writing assessment method for public school students
	and establish a pilot program to administer the assessment method
	developed.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 39.02301 to read as follows:
	Sec. 39.02301.  WRITING ASSESSMENT STUDY; PILOT PROGRAM.
	(a) During the 2015-2016 school year, the agency, in coordination
	with the entity that has been contracted to develop or implement
	assessment instruments under Section 39.023, shall conduct a study
	to develop a writing assessment method as an alternative to the
	writing assessment instruments required under Sections 39.023(a)
	and (c). The writing assessment method must be designed to assess:
	(1)  a student's mastery of the essential knowledge and
	skills in writing through timed writing samples;
	(2)  improvement of a student's writing skills from the
	beginning of the school year to the end of the school year;
	(3)  a student's ability to follow the writing process
	from rough draft to final product; and
	(4)  a student's ability to produce more than one type
	of writing style.
	(b)  During the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, the
	agency shall establish a pilot program as provided by this section
	to implement in designated school districts the writing assessment
	method developed under Subsection (a).
	(c)  The agency shall designate school districts to
	participate in the pilot program as provided by this subsection.
	The pilot program must include at least one large urban district,
	one medium-sized district, and one rural district. Each district
	included must have a student enrollment that is representative of
	diverse demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds. To the extent
	practicable, the agency shall designate the number of districts the
	agency determines appropriate to achieve the cost savings described
	by Subsection (d).
	(d)  A school district designated to participate in the pilot
	program under this section is not required to comply with the
	writing assessment requirements under Sections 39.023(a) and (c)
	during the period the district is participating in the pilot
	program. The agency shall, to the greatest extent practicable,
	apply cost savings that result from the exemption under this
	subsection to offset the costs accrued under this section.
	(e)  The agency shall establish the process for
	consolidating student writing assessments under the method
	developed under Subsection (a) to be submitted for scoring. This
	process may include the submission of a student portfolio for
	scoring.
	(f)  The individuals responsible for scoring student writing
	assessments under the pilot program shall be coordinated jointly
	by:
	(1)  the school district in which the student is
	enrolled and that is participating in the pilot program;
	(2)  a public junior college or institution of higher
	education that enters into an agreement with the participating
	school district; and
	(3)  the regional education service center that serves
	the participating district.
	(g)  A random sampling of scored student writing
	assessments, the size of which the agency shall determine, shall be
	delivered to the agency.
	(h)  Not later than September 1, 2016, the agency shall
	prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
	speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
	of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction
	over primary and secondary education a report covering the study of
	the development of the writing assessment method under Subsection
	(a). Not later than September 1 of each year in 2017 and 2018, the
	agency shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant
	governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
	presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with
	primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education a report
	that:
	(1)  evaluates the implementation and progress of the
	pilot program under this section; and
	(2)  makes recommendations regarding the continuation
	or expansion of the pilot program.
	(i)  The agency shall adopt rules as necessary to administer
	this section.
	(j)  This section expires September 1, 2019.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1164 was passed by the House on April
	30, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 1164 on May 27, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 92, Nays 45,
	4 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1164 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 25, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 25, Nays
	6.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor