TITLE: Relating to diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of public school kindergarten students.

SUMMARY: Relating to diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of public school kindergarten students.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of public school kindergarten students. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 28.006, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The commissioner shall adopt a list of reading instruments that a school district may use to diagnose student reading development and comprehension. For use in diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of kindergarten students, the commissioner shall include on the commissioner's list at least two multidimensional assessment tools. A multidimensional assessment tool on the commissioner's list must either include a reading instrument and test at least three developmental skills, including literacy, or test at least two developmental skills, other than literacy, and be administered in conjunction with a separate reading instrument that is on a list adopted under this subsection. A multidimensional assessment tool administered as provided by this subsection is considered to be a reading instrument for purposes of this section. A district-level committee established under Subchapter F, Chapter 11, may adopt a list of reading instruments for use in the district in addition to the reading instruments on the commissioner's list. Each reading instrument adopted by the commissioner or a district-level committee must be based on scientific research concerning reading skills development and reading comprehension. A list of reading instruments adopted under this subsection must provide for diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of students participating in a program under Subchapter B, Chapter 29. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. 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.