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)]
HB 22 Original 2015 Regular Session Hensgens
Abstract: Prohibits penalizing a student in grades 3-8 for not taking certain Spring 2015 state
assessments due to his parents' refusal to allow him to participate. Provides that the resulting
absence of assessment results for such a student shall not be factored into or negatively
impact performance scores or letter grades for schools and school systems or a teacher's
evaluation rating, and prohibits penalizing schools, school systems, and teachers in any other
way.
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 to be implemented
by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 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.
Proposed law retains present law and prohibits penalizing a student in grades 3-8 who does not take
the English language arts and math assessments in the Spring of 2015 due to his parents' refusal to
allow him to participate. Provides that the resulting absence of assessment results for a student shall
not be factored into or negatively impact performance scores or letter grades for schools and school
systems or a teacher's evaluation rating, and prohibits penalizing schools, school systems, and
teachers in any other manner.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(d))