House Bill No. 4 seeks to amend the Education Code to improve the assessment and accountability framework for public school students in Texas. Key provisions include the establishment of a new appeal process for individuals aggrieved by agency actions, allowing appeals to a district court in Travis County, and requiring school districts to challenge the validity of newly adopted rules within six months. The bill also mandates the development of a streamlined assessment system by the 2027-2028 school year, which will include shorter assessments, timely results, and a minimum of 25% of assessment points derived from non-multiple-choice questions. Additionally, the agency is tasked with releasing assessment questions and answer keys every three years to enhance transparency.

The bill further enhances the authority of the commissioner of education by introducing new grounds for intervention, particularly if a school district engages in legal action against the state. It allows the commissioner to appoint a conservator for districts involved in such actions and mandates compliance with financial accountability standards. The bill also modifies performance evaluation criteria, introducing a new framework for assigning ratings to districts and campuses, and emphasizes the importance of college, career, and military readiness indicators. Overall, House Bill No. 4 aims to create a more effective and accountable public school assessment system while providing necessary legal frameworks for appeals and interventions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 7.056, Education Code 7.057, Education Code 11.182, Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.0238, Education Code 39.026, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.029, Education Code 39.030, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.151, Education Code 39.201, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7.057, Labor Code 312.003, Education Code 39.102 (Education Code 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 7, Labor Code 312, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7)
House Committee Report: Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0237, Education Code 39.028, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.0544, Education Code 39.203 (Education Code 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 7, Labor Code 312, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7)
Engrossed: Education Code 11.185, Education Code 21.4552, Education Code 26.005, Education Code 29.056, Education Code 29.1543, Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0237, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.028, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.0544, Education Code 39.203 (Education Code 26, Education Code 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 7, Education Code 21, Labor Code 312, Education Code 29, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 7.056, Education Code 7.057, Education Code 11.182, Education Code 39.001, Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0238, Education Code 39.026, Education Code 39.0263, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.028, Education Code 39.029, Education Code 39.030, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.151, Education Code 39.201, Labor Code 312.003, Education Code 39.102 (Education Code 26, Education Code 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 7, Education Code 21, Labor Code 312, Education Code 29, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7)