Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________________ E DUCATION/Public
DUCATION/Public
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires the State Board of Education to develop rules for testing those students who are not already
exempt.
Defines a recent unschooled immigrant as a student who initially enrolled in school in the United States no
more than 12 months previous to TAAS testing and has no foundation in the essential knowledge and skills
of the curriculum.
Allows an exemption from TAAS for up to one year for a student who has not demonstrated proficiency in
English or up to three years for a student who is a recent unschooled immigrant or is enrolled in a grade in
which no assessment in the student’s primary language. Requires a student in these categories who
becomes proficient before an exemption expires to take the test at its next administration.
Adds to the list of campus academic performance indicators, the percentage of students of LEP exempted
under the bill.
Requires school districts to:
Closing the Gap - S.B. 702
by Senator West
House Sponsor: Representative Oliveira
• adopt intensive instruction programs for students at-risk of dropping out that enable the student to
catch up to grade level by the beginning of the next school year;
• evaluate the effectiveness of the programs; and
• report on steps taken to close TAAS performance gaps.
Revises definition of “at-risk” to include students who:
• have been retained one year;
• have average scores below 70 in two courses in grades 7 through 12;
• do not perform acceptably on a readiness test in pre-kindergarten through third grade TAAS;
• have been placed in alternative education programs, expelled, or adjudicated; or
• have been reported as drop-outs.
Prohibiting the Use of Seclusion Methods for Discipline in Schools - S.B. 1196
by Senator Truan
House Sponsor: Representative Hochberg
Prohibits using a locked box, locked closet, or other locked space to discipline or managethe behavior of a
student with disabilities.
Prohibits a school district employee, volunteer, or independent contractor of a district from placing a student
in seclusion, that is, a behavior management technique in which a student is confined in a locked box,
locked closet, or locked room that is designed solely to seclude a person and contains less than 50 square
feet of space.
Senate Research Center 91