HLS 15RS-387 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 542
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Provides relative to required state assessments including
prohibiting implementation of Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
and Careers (PARCC) and similar assessments
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) and (d) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii), relative to
3 standards-based assessments; to prohibit the implementation of certain standards-
4 based assessments; to provide exceptions; to provide for parental approval relative
5 to the administration of certain alternate assessments for certain students with
6 disabilities; and to provide for related matters.
7Be 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 amended
9and reenacted to read as follows:
10 ยง24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for
11 required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city
12 school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers
13 * * *
14 F.(1)(a) The Department of Education shall begin implementation of a
15 implement the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program with the approval of the
16 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
17 * * *
18 (d) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, standards-based assessments
19 implemented by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in English
20 language arts and mathematics shall be based on nationally recognized content
21 standards that represent the knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 542
1 transition to postsecondary education and the workplace. Rigorous student
2 achievement standards shall be set with reference to test scores of the same grade
3 levels nationally. Neither the state Department of Education nor the State Board of
4 Elementary and Secondary Education shall implement or administer any assessment
5 proposed or developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
6 and Careers, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, or any other national
7 group or consortium. This prohibition shall not apply to a college entrance
8 examination, a high school equivalency examination, or an industry-based
9 certification examination.
10 * * *
11 (3)(a) In lieu of the standards-based assessments prescribed in
12 Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this Subsection, an alternate
13 assessment shall be provided for and administered, upon the approval of the student's
14 parent or legal guardian, only to those students with disabilities who meet specific
15 eligibility criteria developed by the state Department of Education and approved by
16 the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. A determination of
17 whether any student meets the eligibility criteria established by the state Department
18 of Education shall be made by the student's Individual Education Plan committee and
19 shall be so noted on that student's Individual Education Plan. The alternate
20 assessment developed pursuant to this Paragraph shall be administered on a schedule
21 determined by the state Department of Education and approved by the State Board
22 of Elementary and Secondary Education. The alternate assessment shall be part of
23 the Louisiana Education Assessment Program otherwise provided for in this
24 Subsection and the alternate assessment shall be used for information, accountability,
25 compliance, and planning purposes as provided by the State Board of Elementary
26 and Secondary Education.
27 (b)
28 * * *
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HB NO. 542
1 (ii) Students with persistent academic disabilities shall be allowed to take
2 academic assessments that are sensitive to measuring progress in their learning and
3 that recognize their individual needs. Academic assessments are to be geared
4 specifically toward accommodating students to enable them to perform on standards-
5 based assessments prescribed in Subparagraphs Subparagraph (1)(c) and (d) of this
6 Subsection. Such accommodations shall include at a minimum verbalized test
7 questions and shall provide for writing assistance of a scribe and any other
8 accommodations deemed appropriate by the student's Individual Education Plan
9 committee. However, any such accommodations shall not breach test security or
10 invalidate the meaning of the test score or the purpose of the test.
11 * * *
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 542 Original 2015 Regular Session Schroder
Abstract: Prohibits implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers (PARCC) and similar assessments.
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. Requires BESE to establish the adequate test scores for determining
successful student performance on the tests.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law 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 deletes present law and 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.
Present law 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
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HB NO. 542
for certain students with persistent academic disabilities. Proposed law requires a parent's
or guardian's approval of administration of an alternate assessment to a student.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) and (d) and (3)(a) and (b)(ii))
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are additions.