What is HB4545 and How do we follow it?

Warm-Up

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Group Instruction

Texas HB 4545 is a new bill that was past during the 87th Texas Legislative Session. It consists of a few key points that focus on improving the quality of remediation for those students that failed the State of Texas of Academic Readiness, aka STAAR.

The two main points consist of removing the retention requirement of 5th and 8th graders if they failed to pass the STAAR and the formation of Accelerated Learning Committees. The bill also sets specific requirements for how a local education agency (LEA) can offer the remediation.

Basically, for each failed test, a minimum of thirty (30) hours per year must be given to the student. However, the remediation time must not remove the student from regular classes and must be conducted with a 3:1 student to teacher ratio.

The student must also receive this accelerated instruction every year until they reach “Approaches Grade Level” on the subject test. This includes high school’s EOC tests. For accountability, the student is required to attend this remediation time as they are subject to the compulsory attendance rule.

Group Work

1. Retention of 5th and 8th graders who fail the STAAR
   • Too much mental strain for students that young being retained due to STAAR
   • The retention policy would have profound effects on a student’s social development when peers go to a different school (i.e. 6th grade = Middle School and 9th grade = High School)
   • HB 4545 only affects those enrolled in Texas schools the previous year. Out of state, private school, and homeschoolers that are new enrollees will not be under new law until the following year.
2. Accelerated Learning Committee
   • Creates a specialized learning committee, similar to an ARD committee.
   • Must have the principal, parent, and teacher of the failing subject.
   • Plan must consist of a customized learning plan, progress-monitoring plan, assessment tools and data, and specific actions/resources given to the student.

Individual Work

Resources available:

• Email for HB 4545: [email protected]
• TEA’s HB4545 FAQ.

Exit Ticket

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