HB 1249

relating to authorizing the use of a writing portfolio assessment
to assess writing performance for public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.02301 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.02301.  OPTIONAL USE OF WRITING PORTFOLIO
ASSESSMENT.  (a)  A school district may elect to use a writing
portfolio assessment to assess writing performance for students
enrolled in the district as an alternative to administering the
portion of a reading assessment instrument under Section 39.023(a)
or English I or English II end-of-course assessment instrument
under Section 39.023(c) that is not presented in a multiple choice
(b)  A school district that elects to use a writing portfolio
assessment under this section shall design the assessment in
consultation with a public or private institution of higher
education and submit the assessment to the agency for approval.  The
agency shall approve the assessment if the assessment is:
(1)  determined by the public or private institution of
higher education that consulted on the design of the assessment to
(A)  a student's mastery of the essential
knowledge and skills in writing through timed writing samples;
(B)  improvement of a student's writing skills
from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year;
(C)  a student's ability to follow the writing
process from rough draft to final product; and
(D)  a student's ability to produce more than one
(c)  A school district that elects to use a writing portfolio
assessment under this section may adopt a policy allowing the
assessment to be scored by a classroom teacher assigned to the same
campus as the student to whom the assessment is administered.  The
district may coordinate with the regional education service center
for the district's region in grading the assessments.
(d)  A school district that elects to use a writing portfolio
assessment under this section is not required to administer the
portion of a reading assessment instrument under Section 39.023(a)
or English I or English II end-of-course assessment instrument
under Section 39.023(c) that is not presented in a multiple choice
format during the period the district is administering the writing
portfolio assessment.  The agency shall, to the greatest extent
practicable, apply cost savings that result from the exemption
under this subsection to offset the costs accrued under this
(e)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.