HLS 15RS-1169 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 502
BY REPRESENTATIVES HENSGENS AND GEYMANN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Limits the time allowed for administration and the length of
state assessments to public school students in grades three through eight
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:24.4(F)(2), relative to student assessments; to provide relative to the length
3 of such assessments; to limit the amount of time allowed for administration of
4 required state assessments to students in certain grades; to require the State Board
5 of Elementary and Secondary Education to promulgate rules to implement such
6 limitations; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(F)(2) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for
10 required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city
11 school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers
12 * * *
13 F.
14 * * *
15 (2)(a) The following limitations shall apply to the design of an assessment
16 required pursuant to this Subsection:
17 (i) For students in grades three through five, eighty-five percent shall be able
18 to complete the assessment in one hundred twenty minutes or less.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1169 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 502
1 (ii) For students in grades six through eight, eighty-five percent shall be able
2 to complete the assessment in one hundred eighty minutes or less.
3 (b) The amount of time allowed for the administration of an assessment to
4 public school students in grades three through eight shall not exceed five hours, and
5 the assessment shall be administered on only one school day. The amount of time
6 allowed for the administration of practice tests and other test preparation that may
7 be required prior to the administration of an assessment shall not exceed one hour
8 per day for not more than five days.
9 (c) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
10 promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act for
11 implementation of this Paragraph.
12 * * *
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 502 Original 2015 Regular Session Hensgens
Abstract: Limits the amount of time allowed for administration and the length of required
state assessments to students in grades three through eight.
Present law 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. Requires
BESE to establish the adequate test scores for determining successful student performance
on the 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 adds limitations on such assessments as follows:
(1)For students in grades three through five, 85% shall be able to complete the
assessment in 120 minutes or less.
(2)For students in grades six through eight, 85% shall be able to complete the
assessment in 180 minutes or less.
(3)The administration of an assessment in grades three through eight shall not exceed
five hours and the assessment shall be administered on only one school day. The
amount of time allowed for the administration of practice tests and other test
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1169 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 502
preparation required prior to the administration of an assessment shall not exceed
one hour each day for not more than five days.
Requires BESE to promulgate rules for implementation of proposed law.
Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
(Adds R.S. 17:24.4(F)(2))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.