HLS 11RS-533 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2011 HOUSE BILL NO. 100 BY REPRESENTATIVE CARTER Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Provides relative to school readiness assessment AN ACT1 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:391.11, relative to school readiness assessment; to provide2 relative to school readiness tests; to provide relative to the selection, type, and3 content of such tests; to provide relative to the reporting of the results of such tests;4 to provide relative to terminology; to provide relative to implementation; and to5 provide for related matters.6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7 Section 1. R.S. 17:391.11 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 8 ยง391.11. School readiness screening; assessment; kindergarten instrument selection;9 administration; reporting 10 A. Beginning with the 1987-1988 school year and thereafter, each city and11 parish The governing authority of each public school system offering kindergarten12 classes shall require that every child entering kindergarten for the first time be given13 a nationally recognized valid and reliable readiness screening. assessment. The14 results of this screening assessment shall be used in placement for measuring student15 readiness for kindergarten and for planning instruction. The pupil progression plan16 for each school system shall include criterion for placement.17 B. The state Department of Education shall review the available nationally18 recognized valid and reliable individually administered readiness tests and shall19 recommend to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education tests20 HLS 11RS-533 ORIGINAL HB NO. 100 Page 2 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. acceptable for use as provided in this Section. The tests recommended by the state1 Department of Education shall include the capacity to measure a student's2 proficiency in vision and hearing using the present vision and hearing screening3 programs. Each school board may select one of the tests to be used in the system.4 The test selected and policies adopted for promotion to or enrollment in first grade5 shall be promulgated by each system in its pupil progression plan and curriculum6 guides.7 C. Each child entering kindergarten for the first time shall be screened8 assessed at the beginning of the school year. The parent or guardian of each child9 shall be advised of the nature of the child's level of readiness.10 D. Each system public school governing authority shall report to the state11 Department of Education screening assessment results by school on an annual basis12 by December first of each year as required by the state Department of Education.13 E. The state shall pay the cost of state required screening assessment14 materials and reporting required by law or regulation pursuant to this Section.15 Section 2. This provisions of this Act shall be implemented, subject to the16 availability of funds for such purpose, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.17 DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] Carter HB No. 100 Abstract: Provides relative to measuring student readiness for kindergarten. Present law requires each city and parish school system to require that every child entering kindergarten for the first time be given a nationally recognized readiness screening. Proposed law changes the standard for the instrument used to measure student readiness from a "nationally recognized readiness screening" to a "valid and reliable readiness assessment". Present law provides that screening results are used in placement and for planning instruction. Also requires that the pupil progression plan for each school system include criterion for placement. Proposed law deletes the provision relative to the pupil progression plan, provides that the "assessment" rather than "screening" results are used for measuring student readiness for kindergarten instead of in placement, and otherwise retains present law. HLS 11RS-533 ORIGINAL HB NO. 100 Page 3 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Present law requires the state Dept. of Education to review the available tests and to recommend to BESE tests acceptable for use. Present law requires that the tests recommended by the state Dept. of Education include the capacity to measure a student's proficiency in vision and hearing using the present vision and hearing screening programs; allows each school board to select one of the tests to be used in the system; and requires that the test selected and policies adopted for promotion to or enrollment in first grade be promulgated by each system in its pupil progression plan and curriculum guides. Proposed law deletes present law. Proposed law provides for implementation of proposed law, subject to the availability of funds for such purpose, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. (Amends R.S. 17:391.11)