S.B. No. 2187 amends the Education Code to update the assessment instruments used for public school students in Texas, specifically replacing references to "end-of-course" assessments with "assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023(c)." This change is reflected across various sections related to accountability, reciprocity agreements, and graduation requirements. The bill emphasizes the significance of student performance on these new assessment instruments and outlines procedures for providing accelerated instruction to students who do not meet satisfactory performance levels. It also establishes individual graduation committees for students who fail to meet assessment requirements, allowing for alternative pathways to graduation based on factors such as teacher recommendations.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for adopting nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instruments to evaluate essential knowledge and skills in federally required subjects. It mandates that these assessments be valid and reliable, with specific administration procedures, including time limits and independent validation. The bill prohibits using assessment results for class rankings or as the sole criterion for college admissions and ensures that assessments are primarily administered electronically. A transition plan is included for implementing these changes, starting with students entering ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year, while repealing sections related to the old assessment instruments. The new requirements will take effect in the 2027-2028 school year unless a two-thirds vote for immediate effect is achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 18.006, Education Code 25.005, Education Code 28.014, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 28.0258, Education Code 29.081, Education Code 29.087, Education Code 29.099, Education Code 39.0232, Education Code 39.0234, Education Code 39.024, Education Code 39.025, Education Code 39.034, Education Code 39.035, Education Code 39.036, Education Code 39.203, Education Code 51.338 (Education Code 39, Education Code 29, Education Code 25, Education Code 51, Education Code 18, Education Code 28)