HB 743 says that assessment instruments must be “determined to be valid and reliable” based on empirical evidence.  This determination must be made by an entity “that is independent of the agency and of any other entity that developed the assessment instrument.”

85% of kids in grades 3-5 should be able to complete the dadgum thing in two hours.

85% of kids in grades 6-8 should be able to finish in three hours.

Time allotted for administration may not exceed eight hours, and must be on just one day.

Also: the bill requires T.E.A. to study the TEKS as compared to the STAAR and issue a report telling us whether or not it all makes sense.  We know that many of you are looking forward to that!  T.E.A. must get this report to SBOE by March 1, 2016. SBOE must send the report, along with SBOE recommendations, to the governor and members of the legislature by May 1, 2016.  Thus it will be ready for further action in the 2017 legislative session.

Also: the bill requires T.E.A. to develop a “comprehensive methodology for auditing and monitoring performance under contracts for services to develop or administer” assessment instruments.   As you may recall, there has been just a bit of criticism of Pearson Education about our testing system.

DAWG BONE: GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE STAAR CANNOT LAST AS LONG AS THE BAR EXAM.