HLS 14RS-335 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 163
BY REPRESENTATIVE HENRY BURNS
STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Prohibits administration of Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers assessments and provides for continuation of La.
Educational Assessment Program tests and the standards on which such tests are
based
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a), (c), (d), and (e), relative to education standards2
and related assessments; to prohibit the administration of certain standards-based3
assessments; to remove the requirement that standards-based assessments for certain4
subjects be based on nationally recognized content standards; to provide for the5
continued administration of Louisiana Educational Assessment Program tests and the6
standards on which such tests are based; to provide for periodic review and revision7
of the tests by the state Department of Education; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a), (c), (d), and (e) are hereby amended and reenacted10
to read as follows: 11
ยง24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for12
required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city13
school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers14
* * *15
F.(1)(a) The state Department of Education shall begin implementation of16
a implement the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program with the approval of the17
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.18
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HB NO. 163
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(c) Standards-based assessments in English language arts, mathematics,1
science, and social studies shall be based on state content standards that represent the2
knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully transition to postsecondary3
education and the workplace and rigorous student achievement standards set with4
reference to test scores of students of the same grade level nationally. The5
assessments shall be implemented by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary6
Education. Such tests state Department of Education and shall be administered, at7
a minimum, in grades three through eleven.8
(d) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, standards-based assessments9
implemented by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in English10
language arts and mathematics shall be based on nationally recognized content11
standards that represent the knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully12
transition to postsecondary education and the workplace. Rigorous student13
achievement standards shall be set with reference to test scores of the same grade14
levels nationally. The state Department of Education or the State Board of15
Elementary and Secondary Education shall not implement or administer any16
standards-based assessment proposed or developed by the Partnership for17
Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, the Smarter Balanced Assessment18
Consortium, or any other equivalent national group or consortium. 19
(e) The rigor of each standards-based assessment, at a minimum, shall be20
comparable to national achievement tests, including but not limited to the National21
Assessment of Education Progress. The department shall periodically review the22
rigor of such assessments for compliance with this Subparagraph and Subparagraph23
(c) of this Paragraph and shall revise the assessments as may be necessary to ensure24
such compliance.25
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HB NO. 163
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
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)]
Henry Burns HB No. 163
Abstract: Prohibits administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers (PARCC) assessments and any other similar assessments and
provides for continued administration of La. Educational Assessment Program
(LEAP) tests based on rigorous standards comparable to student achievement levels
nationally.
Present law provides for the La. Competency-Based Education Program, including the
implementation of statewide standards for required subjects and the La. Educational
Assessment Program (LEAP). Requires standards-based assessments for required subjects
(English language arts, math, science, and social studies) to be implemented by the State
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and administered in at least grades
3 through 11. Provides that such assessments be based on state content standards and
rigorous student achievement standards comparable to national student achievement levels.
Further requires that the rigor of such assessments shall at least compare to that of national
achievement tests. Specifies that beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the standards-
based assessments in English language arts and math shall be based on nationally recognized
content standards. Requires BESE to establish the adequate test scores for determining
successful student performance on the tests. Proposed law retains present law provisions
with regard to implementation of LEAP tests.
Proposed law deletes present law requirement that the standards-based assessments in
English language arts and math be based on nationally recognized content standards and
prohibits implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and
Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced assessments and any other similar assessments.
Proposed law provides for implementation of the standards-based assessments by the
department instead of BESE and requires the department to periodically review and revise
the rigor of such assessments as necessary.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a), (c), (d), and (e))