HB 3797

relating to the terminology used to refer to certain assessment
instruments administered to public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 39.025(a-2), Education Code, is amended
(a-2)  The commissioner shall determine a method by which a
student's satisfactory performance on an advanced placement test,
an international baccalaureate examination, an SAT Subject Test,
the SAT, the ACT, or any nationally recognized norm-referenced
assessment instrument used by institutions of higher education to
award course credit based on satisfactory performance on the
assessment instrument shall be used to satisfy the requirements
concerning an end-of-course assessment instrument in an equivalent
course as prescribed by Subsection (a).  The commissioner shall
determine a method by which a student's satisfactory performance on
the PSAT or the PreACT [ACT-Plan] shall be used to satisfy the
requirements concerning an end-of-course assessment instrument in
an equivalent course as prescribed by Subsection (a).  A student who
fails to perform satisfactorily on a test or other assessment
instrument authorized under this subsection, other than the PSAT or
the PreACT [ACT-Plan], may retake that test or other assessment
instrument for purposes of this subsection or may take the
appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument.  A student who
fails to perform satisfactorily on the PSAT or the PreACT
[ACT-Plan] must take the appropriate end-of-course assessment
instrument.  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for
the administration of this subsection.
SECTION 2.  Section 39.0263(c), Education Code, is amended
(c)  The prohibition prescribed by this section does not
apply to the administration of a college preparation assessment
instrument, including the PSAT, the PreACT [ACT-Plan], the SAT, or
the ACT, an advanced placement test, an international baccalaureate
examination, or an independent classroom examination designed or
adopted and administered by a classroom teacher.
SECTION 3.  Section 39.202, Education Code, is amended to
Sec. 39.202.  ACADEMIC DISTINCTION DESIGNATION FOR
DISTRICTS AND CAMPUSES.  The commissioner by rule shall establish
an academic distinction designation for districts and campuses for
outstanding performance in attainment of postsecondary readiness.
The commissioner shall adopt criteria for the designation under
(1)  percentages of students who:
(A)  performed satisfactorily, as determined
under the college readiness performance standard under Section
39.0241, on assessment instruments required under Section
39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l), aggregated across grade levels by
(B)  met the standard for annual improvement, as
determined by the agency under Section 39.034, on assessment
instruments required under Section 39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l),
aggregated across grade levels by subject area, for students who
did not perform satisfactorily as described by Paragraph (A);
(A)  students who earned a nationally or
internationally recognized business or industry certification or
(B)  students who completed a coherent sequence of
(C)  students who completed a dual credit course
or an articulated postsecondary course provided for local credit;
(D)  students who achieved applicable College
Readiness Benchmarks or the equivalent on the Preliminary
Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), the Scholastic Assessment Test
(SAT), the American College Test (ACT), or the PreACT [ACT-Plan]
(E)  students who received a score on either an
advanced placement test or an international baccalaureate
examination to be awarded college credit; and
(3)  other factors for determining sufficient student
attainment of postsecondary readiness.
SECTION 4.  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.