H.B. No. 4 seeks to amend the Education Code to enhance the assessment and accountability framework for public school students in Texas. Key provisions include the prohibition of exemptions from accountability requirements and the introduction of a six-month timeframe for school districts and charter schools to challenge newly adopted rules. The bill mandates the development of a streamlined statewide assessment system that incorporates improvements from previous reports, with new assessment instruments to be implemented by the 2027-2028 school year. It also allows for the adoption of nationally recognized assessments in reading and mathematics, the administration of assessments in Spanish for emergent bilingual students, and the establishment of optional interim assessments.

Additionally, the bill strengthens the authority of the commissioner of education regarding school district accountability, allowing for intervention if a district engages in legal action against the state. It introduces a local accountability grant program and clarifies conditions for receiving a "Not Rated" performance designation. The bill emphasizes the importance of performance indicators linked to postsecondary success and mandates regular updates to these indicators. Overall, H.B. No. 4 aims to improve educational outcomes through rigorous standards, enhanced accountability measures, and support for local systems, with certain provisions taking effect in the 2022-2023 school year and others in the 2027-2028 school year.

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 11, Labor Code 312, Education Code 7, Education Code 39, 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 11, Labor Code 312, Education Code 7, Education Code 39, 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 11, Education Code 26, Labor Code 312, Education Code 7, Education Code 29, Education Code 39, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7, Education Code 21)
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 11, Education Code 26, Labor Code 312, Education Code 7, Education Code 29, Education Code 39, Subchapter Z, Chapter A, Education Code 7, Education Code 21)