HLS 15RS-125 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 245
BY REPRESENTATIVE HENRY (BY REQUEST)
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENTS: Prohibits the use of state content standards, test questions, or other methods
to measure certain noncognitive skills of students
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:24.4(K), relative to public school students; to prohibit the use of state
3 content standards, state assessments, or other methods to measure certain
4 noncognitive skills of students; to provide for exceptions; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(K) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for
9 required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city
10 school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers
11 * * *
12 K.(1) The content standards and assessments adopted by the State Board of
13 Elementary and Secondary Education and implemented by the state Department of
14 Education pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall reflect direct application
15 to subject matter proficiency of students and shall not include content or questions
16 to measure noncognitive, emotional, physical, or psychological characteristics,
17 attributes, or skills of students.
18 (2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to the
19 following:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-125 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 245
1 (a) Instruction and assessments conducted in physical education classes.
2 (b) Optional questions on college entrance exams, Advanced Placement
3 exams, International Baccalaureate exams, and any state assessments administered
4 to students in grades seven through twelve.
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 245 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Henry
Abstract: Requires that state content standards and assessments reflect direct application
to subject matter proficiency and prohibits such standards and assessments from
including content or questions to measure certain noncognitive skills; provides
exceptions.
Present law provides for the development and implementation of state standards for required
subjects by the state Dept. of Education with approval by the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education (BESE). 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 3-11.
Proposed law retains present law and further provides as follows relative to such standards
and assessments:
(1)Requires that they reflect direct application to subject matter proficiency of students.
(2)Prohibits their inclusion of content or questions to measure noncognitive, emotional,
physical, or psychological characteristics, attributes, or skills of students.
Proposed law excepts the following from the application of proposed law:
(1) Instruction and assessments conducted in physical education classes.
(2) Optional questions on college entrance exams, Advanced Placement exams,
International Baccalaureate exams, and any state assessments administered to
students in grades 7-12.
(Adds R.S. 17:24.4(K))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Delete the broad prohibition against the use of any method to measure
noncognitive, emotional, physical, or psychological characteristics, attributes, or
skills, thus limiting the prohibition to content or questions on standards-based
assessments.
2. Add exceptions to proposed law applicable to certain instruction, assessments,
and test questions.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.