[via EduLege Tracker] According to the Texas Legislative Council, a total of 5,853 bills and proposed constitutional amendments were introduced by the March 8 filing deadline for the 83rd Legislature to consider. More than 900 of the bills - roughly 17 percent - pertain to education: 624 bills in the House and 295 bills in the Senate are categorized as education-related.

Now awaiting debate by the Texas House of Representatives is legislation that slashes the number of End of Course exams that high school students must take, from the current 15 - the largest number in the country - to just five. The five required exams would be English II reading and writing, Algebra I, biology and U.S. history.  Local school districts would have the authority to decide whether the EOC exams count towards a student's final grade in each subject tested.

If the 10-0 vote by the House Public Education Committee is any indication, it appears the legislation will face little opposition before the full House. The bill is expected to be on the House Calendar for a vote before Easter.

Under House Bill 5, sponsored by Committee Chair, Jimmy Don Aycock, R-Killeen, Texas would also switch to a single degree plan, and high school students would select one of five paths to graduation: arts and humanities, business and industry, multidisciplinary studies, public services, and science and math.