The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has proposed new 19 TAC §101.3017, concerning student assessment. The proposed new section would require the release of state-developed assessments administered for the 2013-2014 school year before the end of that school year. The proposed rule would specify that the release of the assessments administered in the 2013-2014 school year would occur after the last time the assessments are administered in the 2013-2014 school year. The proposed new section would also specify that this release would exclude those assessments used for retesting or in subsequent administrations.
During the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the TEA is required to annually release all administered tests for those school years developed under the TEC, §39.023, after the last time the assessments are administered for the year. These releases exclude any assessment instruments used for retesting. Rule authority for the release of tests reverts back to the State Board of Education after the 2015-2016 school year.
The public comment period on the proposal begins January 24, 2014, and ends February 24, 2014. Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez, Rulemaking, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 475-1497. Comments may also be submitted electronically to rules@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-5337.
The TEA has also proposed an amendment to 19 TAC §101.3031 that addresses required test administration procedures and training activities to ensure validity, reliability, and security of assessments.