HLS 11RS-533 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 100
BY REPRESENTATIVES CARTER, AUBERT, CARMODY, CHANDL ER, CHANEY,
EDWARDS, HOFFMANN, RI CHARDSON, RI TCHIE, SCHRODER,
SEABAUGH, AND PATRICIA SMITH
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 HLS 11RS-533 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 100
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recommend to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education tests1
acceptable for use as provided in this Section. The tests recommended by the state2
Department of Education shall include the capacity to measure a student's3
proficiency in vision and hearing using the present vision and hearing screening4
programs. Each school board may select one of the tests to be used in the system.5
The test selected and policies adopted for promotion to or enrollment in first grade6
shall be promulgated by each system in its pupil progression plan and curriculum7
guides.8
C. Each child entering kindergarten for the first time shall be screened9
assessed at the beginning of the school year. The parent or guardian of each child10
shall be advised of the nature of the child's level of readiness.11
D. Each system public school governing authority shall report to the state12
Department of Education screening assessment results by school on an annual basis13
by December first of each year as required by the state Department of Education.14
E. The state shall pay the cost of state required screening assessment15
materials and reporting required by law or regulation pursuant to this Section.16
Section 2. This provisions of this Act shall be implemented, subject to the17
availability of funds for such purpose, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.18
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 HLS 11RS-533 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 100
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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.
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)