HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 381
BY REPRESENTATIVES GEYMANN AND POPE
STUDENT/STANDARDS: Creates the Student Standards Commission to develop state
standards for required subjects for public school students
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.4(A)(3) and (4), (E), (F)(3)(a) and (b)(ii), and (G)(2), to2
enact R.S. 36:651(G)(4), and to repeal R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(d), relative to education3
standards and related assessments; to create the Student Standards Commission to4
develop and adopt state education standards for required subjects for public school5
students; to provide for commission membership, vacancies, meetings, voting, and6
compensation; to provide for implementation of the standards by the State Board of7
Elementary and Secondary Education subject to legislative approval; to repeal8
provisions relative to implementation of certain standards-based assessments by the9
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; to delete the requirement that10
the state Department of Education develop and implement statewide content11
standards for required subjects; and to provide for related matters.12
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:13
Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(A)(3) and (4), (E), (F)(3)(a) and (b)(ii), and (G)(2) are14
hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:15
§24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for16
required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city17
school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers18
A. As used in this Section, the following words, terms, and phrases shall19
have the meaning ascribed to them in this Subsection, except when the context20
clearly indicates a different meaning:21
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(3) "Pupil progression plan" means the comprehensive plan developed and1
adopted by each parish or city city, parish, or other local public school board which2
shall be based on student performance on the Louisiana Educational Assessment3
Program with goals and objectives which that are compatible with the Louisiana4
Competency-Based Education Program and which supplements that supplement the5
minimum standards approved implemented by the State Board of Elementary and6
Secondary Education. A pupil progression plan shall require the student's mastery7
of grade-appropriate skills before he or she can be recommended for promotion.8
(4) "The statewide content standards for required subjects" are statements9
that define what a student should know or be able to accomplish at the end of a10
specific time period or grade level or at the completion of a course. Content The11
standards shall represent the knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully12
transition to postsecondary education and the workplace, as determined by content13
experts, elementary and secondary educators and school leaders, postsecondary14
education leaders, and business and industry leaders and shall be developed and15
implemented as provided in Subsection E of this Section.16
* * *17
E.(1) The state Department of Education shall, with the approval of the State18
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as part of the Louisiana19
Competency-Based Education Program, develop and establish statewide content20
standards for required subjects to be taught in the public elementary and secondary21
schools of this state. The statewide content standards for required subjects shall be22
implemented by the state Department of Education as approved by the State Board23
of Elementary and Secondary Education, with recommendations prior to approval24
and advice from the educational personnel in the public schools and colleges and25
universities of this state. There is hereby created the Student Standards Commission,26
referred to in this Subsection as the "commission", for the purpose of developing and27
adopting state standards as required by this Section for students in public elementary28
and secondary schools.29 HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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(2) The membership of the commission shall be as follows:1
(a) One member representing each of the following groups, organizations,2
or entities selected by the respective group, organization, or entity:3
(i) The Louisiana Association of Educators.4
(ii) The Louisiana Federation of Teachers.5
(iii) The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana.6
(iv) The Louisiana School Boards Association.7
(v) The Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.8
(vi) The Louisiana Association of Principals.9
(vii) The Louisiana Association of School Executives.10
(b) Two public school principals selected by the presiding officer of the11
Louisiana Association of Principals.12
(c) Two public elementary school teachers, one math teacher and one13
English teacher, selected by the presiding officer of the Louisiana Association of14
Principals.15
(d) Two public high school teachers, one math teacher and one English16
teacher, selected by the presiding officer of the Louisiana Association of Principals.17
(e) Two supervisors of instruction employed in local school systems selected18
by the president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.19
(f) Two parents of public school students selected by the Louisiana Parent-20
Teacher Association.21
(g) Two parents of public school students selected by the presiding officer of22
the Louisiana Association of Principals.23
(h) Two deans of colleges of education from Louisiana public postsecondary24
education institutions, to be appointed by the commissioner of higher education.25
(i) Two members of the teaching faculty in engineering, math, science, or26
literature from Louisiana public postsecondary education institutions, to be27
appointed by the commissioner of higher education.28 HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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(j) Two members of the board of directors of the Louisiana Association of1
Chamber of Commerce Executives selected by the president of the board of2
directors.3
(k) The president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education4
or his designee.5
(l) The state superintendent of education or his designee.6
(m) The commissioner of higher education or his designee.7
(n) The chairman of the House Committee on Education or his designee.8
(o) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education or his designee.9
(3) Appointed members of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of the10
appointing authority. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original11
appointment.12
(4) The president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education13
shall convene the commission for its first meeting not later than August 30, 2014.14
(5) The commission shall elect from among its members a chairman and15
such other officers as it deems appropriate.16
(6) A majority of the commission's total membership, as provided by this17
Subsection, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A favorable18
vote of two-thirds of the total membership is required for adoption of the standards19
as required in this Subsection.20
(7) All legislative members of the commission shall receive the same per21
diem and travel allowance for attending meetings of the commission as is normally22
provided for meetings of legislative committees. Other members of the commission23
shall serve without compensation.24
(8) The members selected pursuant to Subparagraphs (2)(a) through (j) of25
this Subsection shall represent the geographic diversity of the state, to the extent26
practical.27
(9) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall provide28
administrative and staff support to the commission.29 HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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(10) The commission shall be subject to the Public Records Law and the1
Open Meetings Law.2
(11) In developing the standards, the commission shall also consider and3
may recommend the appropriate state assessments to be used to effectively measure4
student achievement.5
(12) The standards developed and adopted by the commission shall be6
implemented by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education through7
rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with the Administrative Procedure8
Act after the approval of the standards by the legislature by concurrent resolution9
adopted by a favorable vote of at least a majority of the elected members of each10
house. The state board shall submit the standards to the legislature on or before11
March first of any given year. The legislature may return the standards to the state12
board and include any recommendations for changes to the standards it deems13
necessary or appropriate. Except as provided in Paragraph (13) of this Subsection,14
the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall not implement15
standards that have not been approved by the legislature pursuant to this Paragraph.16
(13) Until the implementation of the initial standards developed by the17
commission and approved by the legislature as provided in this Subsection, the State18
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall implement the state standards19
used immediately prior to the adoption of the Common Core State Standards by the20
board.21
F.22
* * *23
(3)(a) In lieu of the standards-based assessments prescribed in24
Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this Subsection, an alternate25
assessment shall be provided for and administered only to those students with26
disabilities who meet specific eligibility criteria developed by the state Department27
of Education and approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary28
Education. A determination of whether any student meets the eligibility criteria29 HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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established by the state Department of Education shall be made by the student's1
Individual Education Plan committee and shall be so noted on that student's2
Individual Education Plan. The alternate assessment developed pursuant to this3
Paragraph shall be administered on a schedule determined by the state Department4
of Education and approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary5
Education. The alternate assessment shall be part of the Louisiana Education6
Assessment Program otherwise provided for in this Subsection and the alternate7
assessment shall be used for information, accountability, compliance, and planning8
purposes as provided by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.9
(b)10
* * *11
(ii) Students with persistent academic disabilities shall be allowed to take12
academic assessments that are sensitive to measuring progress in their learning and13
that recognize their individual needs. Academic assessments are to be geared14
specifically toward accommodating students to enable them to perform on standards-15
based assessments prescribed in Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this16
Subsection. Such accommodations shall include at a minimum verbalized test17
questions and shall provide for writing assistance of a scribe and any other18
accommodations deemed appropriate by the student's Individual Education Plan19
committee. However, any such accommodations shall not breach test security or20
invalidate the meaning of the test score or the purpose of the test.21
* * *22
G.23
* * *24
(2) Each parish or city local school board plan for pupil progression shall be25
based upon local goals and objectives which are compatible with the Louisiana26
Competency-Based Education Program numerated described in R.S. 17:24.4(B)27
Subsection B of this Section, which comply with the provisions of R.S.28
17:24.4(A)(3) Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section, and which supplement the29 HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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performance standards approved implemented by the State Board of Elementary and1
Secondary Education.2
* * *3
Section 2. R.S. 36:651(G)(4) is hereby enacted to read as follows:4
§651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department5
of Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of6
Education7
* * *8
G. The following agencies, as defined by R.S. 36:3, are transferred to and9
hereafter shall be within the Department of Education as provided in Part III of10
Chapter 22 of this Title:11
* * *12
(4) The Student Standards Commission (R.S. 17:24.4(E)).13
* * *14
Section 3. R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(d) is hereby repealed in its entirety.15
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)]
Geymann HB No. 381
Abstract: Creates the Student Standards Commission to develop state standards for
required subjects for public school students. Provides for implementation of the
standards by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)
subject to legislative approval of the standards. Repeals provisions relative to
implementation of certain standards-based assessments by BESE.
Present law provides for the La. Competency-Based Education Program, including the
development and 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 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. Provides for an alternate assessment to be administered to students with
disabilities who meet criteria developed by the state Dept. of Education. Further requires HLS 14RS-1141 ORIGINAL
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the department to develop modified achievement standards and use alternative assessments
for certain students with persistent academic disabilities. Proposed law retains present law
except repeals present law requirement that the standards-based assessments in English
language arts and math be based on nationally recognized content standards.
Proposed law creates the Students Standards Commission in the Dept. of Education to
develop state standards for required subjects. Provides for commission membership,
vacancies, meetings, voting, and compensation. Provides that the commission shall be
subject to the Public Records Law and the Open Meetings Law. Provides that in developing
the standards, the commission shall also consider and may recommend the appropriate
assessments to be used to effectively measure student achievement.
Proposed law provides for implementation of the standards by BESE subject to legislative
approval of the standards. Requires the state board to submit the standards to the legislature
and provides that the legislature may return the standards and include any recommendations
for changes. Provides that if the legislature fails to finally approve the initial standards
developed and adopted by the commission, BESE shall implement the state standards used
immediately prior to BESE's adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
Further provides that the legislature shall approve any subsequent changes to the standards
before they can be implemented.
Proposed law deletes requirement that the state Dept. of Education develop and implement
the statewide content standards for required subjects.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(A)(3) and (4), (E), (F)(3)(a) and (b)(ii), and (G)(2); Adds R.S.
36:651(G)(4); Repeals R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(d))