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)]
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP ORT DIGEST
HB 245 2015 Regular Session Henry
Keyword and oneliner of the instrument as it left the House
STUDENTS: Prohibits the use of state content standards, test questions, or other methods to
measure certain noncognitive skills of students
Report adopts Senate amendments to:
1. Provide that proposed law prohibition applies only to students in grades 3-12.
Report rejects Senate amendments which would have:
1. Added a requirement that charter schools enroll students with an exceptionality (other than
gifted and talented) proportionally to the percentage of such pupils enrolled in the local
public school district, in the same manner as pupils eligible to participate in the federal free
and reduced lunch program.
2. Specified that proposed law is applicable to state assessments administered pursuant to the
state school and district accountability system.
Digest of the bill as proposed by the Conference Committee
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 state content standards and state assessments 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.
Provides that proposed law applies only to students in grades 3-12.
(Adds R.S. 17:24.4(K))