H.B. No. 102 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 while ensuring compliance with federal requirements. This program will focus on progress monitoring and instructional growth, minimizing disruption to educational programs. Additionally, Section 39.023 is modified to require the adoption of nationally norm-referenced assessment instruments that can be administered throughout the school year, emphasizing valid assessments that support instruction and provide timely feedback to educators and parents.

The bill also introduces new performance indicators for evaluating campuses serving students from prekindergarten through eighth grade, focusing on student engagement and workforce development. These indicators include metrics for participation in extracurricular activities, completion rates of literacy and mathematics achievement academies, and successful completion of career and technology courses. Furthermore, it stipulates that any changes to the accountability system must be approved by the legislature and that accountability rules cannot be modified during the school year once established. The bill repeals a specific section of the Education Code and sets an effective date of 91 days after the legislative session ends, with provisions applying starting in 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 39, Education Code 26, Education Code 29)