(a) The goal of the statewide assessment program is to provide all eligible Texas students an appropriate statewide assessment that measures and supports their achievement of the essential knowledge and skills of the state-mandated curriculum.     
      (b) To maximize its effectiveness for educators and students, the statewide assessment program shall be based on the following quality standards.      
        (1) Tests shall be aligned to the essential knowledge and skills of the state-mandated curriculum in all subject areas tested.       
        (2) Tests shall be reliable and valid measures of the essential knowledge and skills and shall be administered in a standardized manner.       
        (3) Test results at the student, campus, district, regional, and state levels shall be reported in a timely and accurate manner.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §101.3 adopted to be effective August 15, 2002, 27 TexReg 7106