S.B. No. 9 seeks to enhance accountability and transparency in Texas public schools by implementing a new instructionally supportive assessment program. The bill amends various sections of the Education Code to ensure that parents have online access to state assessment instruments and results, while establishing a framework focused on progress monitoring to provide actionable information to educators, parents, and students. It outlines a transition plan from the current State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) program to the new assessment program by the 2027-2028 school year, requiring the Texas Education Agency to contract with a recognized provider for this transition and conduct field testing of new assessment items. The bill also emphasizes the importance of teacher involvement in the assessment process and mandates timely release of results and public availability of assessment questions and answer keys.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to improve the assessment framework for emergent bilingual students, particularly those whose primary language is Spanish, and establishes a language proficiency assessment committee. It sets specific requirements for assessment instruments, including empirical validation and reliability, and limits the number of benchmark assessments administered to students. The bill also modifies the performance rating system, ensuring transparency in school district evaluations and establishing a "Not Rated" category for districts affected by disasters. Furthermore, it includes provisions for a grant program to assist districts in developing local accountability plans and outlines a timeline for implementing these changes, with some provisions taking effect as early as the 2022-2023 school year. Overall, S.B. No. 9 aims to strengthen educational outcomes by holding schools accountable for student performance and ensuring effective resource allocation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 26.005, Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0263, Education Code 39.0301, Education Code 39.304, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.0544, Education Code 39.201, The following provisions of the Education Code 39.0531, Education Code 7.057, Education Code 39.001, Education Code 39.151, Education Code 7.056, Education Code 11.185, Education Code 21.4552, Education Code 39.02342, Education Code 39.0236, Education Code 39.0238, Education Code 39.025, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.030, Education Code 39.031, Education Code 39.035, Education Code 39.203 (The following provisions of the Education Code 39, Education Code 7, Education Code 11, Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 26)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 26.005, Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0263, Education Code 39.0301, Education Code 39.304, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.0544, Education Code 39.201, The following provisions of the Education Code 39.0531, Education Code 7.057, Education Code 39.001, Education Code 39.151, Education Code 7.056, Education Code 11.185, Education Code 21.4552, Education Code 39.02342, Education Code 39.0236, Education Code 39.0238, Education Code 39.025, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.030, Education Code 39.031, Education Code 39.035, Education Code 39.203 (The following provisions of the Education Code 39, Education Code 7, Education Code 11, Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 26)