CAPITOL: P.O. Box 12068, Room lE.3 Austin, Texas 78711 (512) 463-0108 (512) 463-7579 (Fax) Dial 711 for Relay Calls DISTRICT: 5000 Legacy Drive Suite 494 Plano, Texas 75024 (972) 403-3404 (972) 403-3405 (Fax) Robert Scott it 2; gig) tw or FLORENCE SHAPIRO Texas State Senator District 8 February 13, 2012 Commissioner of Education Pre COMMITTEES: Education, Chair Finance Administration Transportation and Homeland Security sident Pro Tempore 2005 1701 N. Congress Ave. Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Commissioner Scott: Recognizing the on-going concern in the school community regarding the impact of end-of-course assessments on current ninth grade students, this letter clarifies our legislative intent as the authors of SB 1031 (80R) and the sponsor of HB 3 (8 1R). SB 1031 amended Section 39.023(c) ofthe Texas Education Code to require that an end-of-course assessment be counted as 15% of a student's final grade in a course and HB 3 established a transition plan. We understand that you have been asked to grant a waiver of the 15% provision for the 2011-2012 school year. \/Vhile we agree that the provisions of Chapter 39 may not be waived under your general waiver authority, we believe that you have authority by virtue of the transition plan authorized under Section 39.025(f) to defer the requirement that an end-of-course assessment count as 15% ofa final grade until the 2012-2013 school year to coincide with full implementation ofthe testing and accountability changes. We wish to be clear that we do not support any change in the requirement that end- of-course assessments be completed as part of high school graduation requirements. A waiver of that graduation requirement is explicitly prohibited within the waiver statute itself However, the application of an end-of-course assessment to a final grade can be deferred to allow the new testing system to be introduced and aligned with an accountability system based on those new - outcomes. We strongly support the transition to end-of-course assessments as crucial to enhancing the college readiness of our students. We support the waiver of the course grade requirement solely as a transition to the new testing and Page 2 Febluary 13, 2012 accountability system, for which your _office Was given additional authority to deal with unforeseen consequences in the legislation. i i Thank you for your attention to the niatter and your dedication to the public' schools of our state, I Very truly yours, . FlorenceShapi a Roy eWest- KelSeliger Dan Patrick Senator _Senator Senator a Senator