HLS 14RS-667 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 556
BY REPRESENTATIVES HENRY AND RICHARD
STUDENT/STANDAR DS: Prohibits implementation of Common Core State Standards and
provides for implementation of prior standards
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.4(A)(4), (E), and (F)(1)(a) and (c) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii)2
and to repeal R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(d) and Part VI of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the3
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 17:391.2 through 391.13,4
relative to education standards and related assessments; to prohibit the5
implementation of the Common Core State Standards; to provide for the6
implementation of certain prior standards; to repeal obsolete provisions relative to7
public school accountability and assessment; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(A)(4), (E), and (F)(1)(a) and (c) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii) are10
hereby amended and reenacted 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
A. As used in this Section, the following words, terms, and phrases shall15
have the meaning ascribed to them in this Subsection, except when the context16
clearly indicates a different meaning:17
* * *18
(4) "The statewide content standards for required subjects" are statements19
that define what a student should know or be able to accomplish at the end of a20
specific time period or grade level or at the completion of a course. Content21
standards shall represent the knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully22 HLS 14RS-667 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 556
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transition to postsecondary education and the workplace, as determined by content1
experts, elementary and secondary educators and school leaders, postsecondary2
education leaders, and business and industry leaders.3
* * *4
E.(1) The state Department of Education shall, with the approval of the State5
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as part of the Louisiana6
Competency-Based Education Program, develop and establish shall implement7
statewide content standards for required subjects to be taught in the public8
elementary and secondary schools of this state as provided in Paragraph (2) of this9
Subsection. The statewide content standards for required subjects shall be10
implemented by the state Department of Education as approved by the State Board11
of Elementary and Secondary Education, with recommendations prior to approval12
and advice from the educational personnel in the public schools and colleges and13
universities of this state.14
(2) The state Department of Education or the State Board of Elementary and15
Secondary Education shall not implement the Common Core State Standards for any16
subject. The department shall implement the state standards used immediately prior17
to the adoption of the Common Core State Standards by the State Board of18
Elementary and Secondary Education and shall make improvements to the standards19
as may be necessary.20
* * *21
F.(1)(a) The state Department of Education shall begin implementation of22
a implement the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program with the approval of the23
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.24
* * *25
(c) Standards-based assessments in English language arts, mathematics,26
science, and social studies shall be based on state content standards that represent the27
knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully transition to postsecondary28
education and the workplace and rigorous student achievement standards set with29 HLS 14RS-667 ORIGINAL
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reference to test scores of students of the same grade level nationally. The1
assessments shall be implemented by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary2
Education. Such tests state Department of Education and shall be administered, at3
a minimum, in grades three through eleven.4
* * *5
(3)(a) In lieu of the standards-based assessments prescribed in6
Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this Subsection, an alternate7
assessment shall be provided for and administered only to those students with8
disabilities who meet specific eligibility criteria developed by the state Department9
of Education and approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary10
Education. A determination of whether any student meets the eligibility criteria11
established by the state Department of Education shall be made by the student's12
Individual Education Plan committee and shall be so noted on that student's13
Individual Education Plan. The alternate assessment developed pursuant to this14
Paragraph shall be administered on a schedule determined by the state Department15
of Education and approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary16
Education. The alternate assessment shall be part of the Louisiana Education17
Assessment Program otherwise provided for in this Subsection and the alternate18
assessment shall be used for information, accountability, compliance, and planning19
purposes as provided by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.20
(b)21
* * *22
(ii) Students with persistent academic disabilities shall be allowed to take23
academic assessments that are sensitive to measuring progress in their learning and24
that recognize their individual needs. Academic assessments are to be geared25
specifically toward accommodating students to enable them to perform on standards-26
based assessments prescribed in Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this27
Subsection. Such accommodations shall include at a minimum verbalized test28
questions and shall provide for writing assistance of a scribe and any other29 HLS 14RS-667 ORIGINAL
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accommodations deemed appropriate by the student's Individual Education Plan1
committee. However, any such accommodations shall not breach test security or2
invalidate the meaning of the test score or the purpose of the test.3
* * *4
Section 2. R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(d) and Part VI of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the5
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 17:391.2 through 391.13, are hereby6
repealed in their entirety.7
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 HB No. 556
Abstract: Prohibits implementation of Common Core State Standards and provides for
implementation of prior standards.
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 except requires the tests to be administered in
grades 3 through 11.
Proposed law deletes present law requirement that the standards-based assessments in
English language arts and math be based on nationally recognized content standards.
Provides for implementation of the standards-based assessments by the department instead
of BESE.
Proposed law prohibits implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and
provides for implementation of standards in place immediately prior to adoption of CCSS
by BESE.
Present law (R.S. 17:391.2-391.13), relative to public school accountability and assessment,
includes requirements for an educational accountability program, pupil proficiency levels,
course content evaluations, standardized test administration, and public school accreditation.
Further provides for school readiness assessments for students entering kindergarten and a
talent search program for junior high students. Proposed law repeals present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(A)(4), (E), and (F)(1)(a) and (c) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii); Repeals R.S.
17:24.4(F)(1)(d) and 391.2-391.13)