Sec. 39.037.  INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT PROGRAM.  (a)  In this section, "program" means the international assessment instrument program.
(b)  The  commissioner shall establish a program under which a participating school district administers international assessment instruments to students in the district.
(c)  A school district may apply to the commissioner to participate in the program.  The commissioner shall select for participation school districts from both rural and urban areas of the state.  If necessary, the commissioner may require a school district to participate in the program.
(d)  A participating school district shall administer international assessment instruments as required by the commissioner.
(e)  In administering the program, the commissioner shall:
(1)  compare the performance on the international assessment instruments of students in this state with students of the same grade level in other countries;
(2)  compare the international assessment instruments with state assessment instruments and state educational goals; and
(3)  provide professional development for educators in the interpretation and use of results of the international assessment instruments.
(f)  Each biennium the commissioner may use funds appropriated for the Foundation School Program to provide funding for the program in an amount not to exceed $2 million.
(g)  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the commissioner shall prepare and deliver a report describing the results of student performance on the international assessment instruments to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the legislature, and each school district.
(h)  The commissioner may adopt rules necessary to administer this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 754 (H.B. 3259), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.