HLS 14RS-915 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 996
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER
STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Prohibits implementation of the Partnership for Assessment
of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments and provides for
continuation of La. Educational Assessment Program tests
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) and (d) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii), relative to2
standards-based assessments; to prohibit the implementation of certain standards-3
based assessments; to provide exceptions; to provide for the continuation of4
Louisiana Educational Assessment Program tests; to provide for parental approval5
relative to the administration of certain alternate assessments for certain students6
with disabilities; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) and (d) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii) are hereby amended9
and reenacted to read as follows: 10
ยง24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for11
required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city12
school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers13
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F.(1)(a) The Department of Education shall begin implementation of a15
implement the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program with the approval of the16
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.17
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HB NO. 996
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(d) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, standards-based assessments1
implemented by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in English2
language arts and mathematics shall be based on nationally recognized content3
standards that represent the knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully4
transition to postsecondary education and the workplace. Rigorous student5
achievement standards shall be set with reference to test scores of the same grade6
levels nationally. Neither the state Department of Education nor the State Board of7
Elementary and Secondary Education shall implement or administer any assessment8
proposed or developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College9
and Careers, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, or any other equivalent10
national group or consortium. This prohibition shall not apply to a college entrance11
examination, a high school equivalency examination, or an industry-based12
certification examination. 13
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(3)(a) In lieu of the standards-based assessments prescribed in15
Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this Subsection, an alternate16
assessment shall be provided for and administered, upon the approval of the student's17
parent or legal guardian, only to those students with disabilities who meet specific18
eligibility criteria developed by the state Department of Education and approved by19
the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. A determination of20
whether any student meets the eligibility criteria established by the state Department21
of Education shall be made by the student's Individual Education Plan committee and22
shall be so noted on that student's Individual Education Plan. The alternate23
assessment developed pursuant to this Paragraph shall be administered on a schedule24
determined by the state Department of Education and approved by the State Board25
of Elementary and Secondary Education. The alternate assessment shall be part of26
the Louisiana Education Assessment Program otherwise provided for in this27
Subsection and the alternate assessment shall be used for information, accountability,28 HLS 14RS-915 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 996
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compliance, and planning purposes as provided by the State Board of Elementary1
and Secondary Education.2
(b)3
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(ii) Students with persistent academic disabilities shall be allowed to take5
academic assessments that are sensitive to measuring progress in their learning and6
that recognize their individual needs. Academic assessments are to be geared7
specifically toward accommodating students to enable them to perform on standards-8
based assessments prescribed in Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this9
Subsection. Such accommodations shall include at a minimum verbalized test10
questions and shall provide for writing assistance of a scribe and any other11
accommodations deemed appropriate by the student's Individual Education Plan12
committee. However, any such accommodations shall not breach test security or13
invalidate the meaning of the test score or the purpose of the test.14
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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)]
Schroder HB No. 996
Abstract: Prohibits implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers (PARCC) assessments and provides for the continuation of La.
Educational Assessment Program tests.
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. Provides for an alternate assessment to be
administered to students with disabilities who meet criteria developed by the state Dept. of
Education. Further requires the department to develop modified achievement standards and
use alternative assessments for certain students with persistent academic disabilities. HLS 14RS-915 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 996
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are additions.
Proposed law retains present law except deletes present law requirement that the standards-
based assessments in English language arts and math be based on nationally recognized
content standards. Prohibits implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness
for College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced assessments and any other similar
assessments. Specifies that this prohibition shall not apply to a college entrance
examination, a high school equivalency examination, or an industry-based certification
examination. Relative to the administration of alternate assessments to a student with
disabilities, proposed law provides that such administration be upon the parent's or
guardian's approval.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) and (d) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii))