The Senate Education Committee is holding an informational hearing today on assessments. No specific testing bills are being heard, but the committee has invited various witnesses to discuss the testing issue. Throughout the day, committee members have raised questions about the number of tests administered, the differences between criterion-referenced tests and norm-referenced tests, the possibility of allowing teachers to see the tests that will be administered to their students, and the overall role of testing in the public education system. Earlier today, the committee voted to approve a substitute version of Senate Bill (SB) 3, which is Chairman Dan Patrick's bill pertaining to curriculum requirements for graduation. The bill requires the creation of personal graduation plans for all middle, junior high and high school students and steers them toward a single diploma under the "foundation high school program" (eliminating the current distinctions of the "minimum," "recommended" and "advanced" high school programs). The bill allows students who complete the foundation curriculum to take additional courses to earn endorsements in the areas of business and industry, STEM, arts and humanities or distinguished achievement. CSSB 3 (the committee substitute version of the bill) heads next to the Senate floor, where it is likely to be amended again. Read about ATPE's testimony last week on SB 3 here.