September 1, 2020 Committee of the Full Board Item 3

Discussion of Transition to Electronic Administration of Assessment Instruments

September 1, 2020

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: House Bill 3906, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature, 2019, requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in consultation with the State Board of Education (SBOE), to develop a transition plan to administer all state assessments electronically beginning not later than the 2022-2023 school year. This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on and for the SBOE to discuss the development of the transition plan.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.02341.

TEC, §39.02341, requires TEA, in consultation with the SBOE, to develop a transition plan to administer all state assessments electronically beginning not later than the 2022-2023 school year.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: None.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: House Bill 3906, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature, 2019, requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in consultation with the State Board of Education (SBOE), to develop a transition plan to administer all state assessments electronically beginning not later than the 2022-2023 school year. The plan must evaluate the availability of Internet access for each school district in Texas; identify changes to state law or policy necessary to improve the availability of Internet access; evaluate the state’s experience with administering online assessment instruments, including the occurrence or effects of power outages or other types of disruptions of Internet service, and actions taken by the state to mitigate the occurrence and effect of those disruptions; and identify and evaluate actions taken by the state to improve the administration of online assessment instruments Not later than December 1, 2020, the agency must submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the members of the legislature a report on the plan. The report must include information from school districts assessing the needs of those districts in transitioning to electronic administration; any recommended changes to state law to assist in the transition; and a recommended timeline for statewide implementation of electronic administration. This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on and for the SBOE to discuss the development of the transition plan.

Staff Members Responsible:
Iris Tian, Division Director, Student Assessment