S.B. No. 825         AN ACT   relating to school district discretion to administer college   preparation assessment instruments to public school students at   state cost.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 39.0261(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise   authorized or required by this subchapter:                (1)  each school year and at state cost, a school   district may [shall] administer to students in the spring of the   eighth grade an established, valid, reliable, and nationally   norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment   instrument for the purpose of diagnosing the academic strengths and   deficiencies of students before entrance into high school;                (2)  each school year and at state cost, a school   district may [shall] administer to students in the 10th grade an   established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced   preliminary college preparation assessment instrument for the   purpose of measuring a student's progress toward readiness for   college and the workplace; and                (3)  high school students in the spring of the 11th   grade or during the 12th grade may select and take once, at state   cost, one of the valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced   assessment instruments used by colleges and universities as part of   their undergraduate admissions processes.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   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.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 825 passed the Senate on   May 16, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 2.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 825 passed the House on   May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 3, two   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor