H.B. No. 134 seeks to reform public school accountability in Texas by reducing the number of state-required accountability exams to the minimum required by federal law and replacing them with instructionally supportive assessments. The bill amends Section 39.022 of the Education Code to establish a nationally-normed assessment program that provides flexibility for school districts and charter schools with acceptable ratings. These new assessments will focus on progress monitoring and instructional growth while ensuring compliance with federal requirements. The bill also emphasizes the importance of delivering actionable information to educators, students, and parents to enhance student instruction and learning outcomes.

Additionally, the bill modifies Section 39.023 to ensure that assessment instruments are nationally norm-referenced and can be administered throughout the school year with minimal disruption to instructional time. It includes provisions for assessing students with special needs and introduces new assessment instruments for students with dyslexia or related disorders. The bill mandates that parents have access to their child's assessment results in a user-friendly format and outlines criteria for evaluating school districts based on student achievement, including college and military readiness. Overall, H.B. No. 134 aims to create a supportive assessment environment that prioritizes student achievement and instructional quality, with the changes taking effect 91 days after the legislative session ends and applying to the 2025-2026 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0237, Education Code 29.056, Education Code 26.005, Education Code 39.203, Education Code 39.053 (Education Code 29, Education Code 39, Education Code 26)