HLS 15RS-387 ENGROSSED
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 contracts by the state Dept. of Education
for English language arts and math assessments for the 2015-2016 school year
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) and to enact R.S. 17:24.4(F)(2), relative to
3 standards-based assessments; to provide relative to requirements for contracts for
4 certain assessments; to provide for limitations with regard to the content of such
5 assessments; to provide for effectiveness and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
817:24.4(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.(1)(a) The Department of Education shall begin implementation of a
14 implement the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program with the approval of the
15 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
16 * * *
17 (2)(a) The state Department of Education shall not contract with the
18 Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers consortium for
19 assessments administered pursuant to this Section during the 2015-2016 school year.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-387 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 542
1 (b) The department shall contract with another vendor, in accordance with
2 the Louisiana Procurement Code, for assessments to be used in grades three through
3 ten in English language arts and mathematics for the 2015-2016 school year. Not
4 more than forty-nine and nine-tenths percent of the questions in the selected
5 assessment shall be based on the blueprint developed through the Partnership for
6 Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers process or processes conducted by
7 a federally funded consortium of states.
8 * * *
9 Section 2. This Act shall take effect and become operative if and when the Acts
10which originated as House Bill No. 373 and as Senate Bill No. 43 of this 2015 Regular
11Session of the Legislature are enacted and become effective.
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 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Schroder
Abstract: Requires the state Dept. of Education to contract with a vendor (other than the
PARCC consortium) for English language arts and math assessments for the 2015-
2016 school year.
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 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 prohibits the state Dept. of Education from contracting with the Partnership
for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) consortium for assessments
administered pursuant to present law during the 2015-2016 school year. Requires the
department to contract with another vendor, in accordance with the La. Procurement Code,
for assessments for grades three through 10 in English language arts and math for the 2015-
2016 school year. Limits assessment questions, to not more than 49.9% that can be based
on the blueprint developed through the PARCC process or processes conducted by a
federally funded consortium of states. Otherwise retains present law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-387 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 542
Provides that proposed law is effective if and when House Bill No. 373 and Senate Bill
No. 43 of the 2015 R.S. become effective.
(Amends R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(a); Adds R.S. 17:24.4(F)(2))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Prohibit the state Dept. of Education from contracting with the PARCC
consortium for assessments for the 2015-2016 school year and require the
department to contract with another vendor, in accordance with the La.
Procurement Code, for assessments for grades three through 10 in English
language arts and math for the 2015-2016 school year.
2. Limit the number of assessment questions that can be based on the blueprint
developed through the PARCC process or processes conducted by a federally
funded consortium of states.
3. Delete proposed law prohibition on implementation of PARCC and Smarter
Balanced and other similar assessments. Retain present law requiring that
assessments be based on nationally recognized content standards and requiring
that student achievement standards be based on national test scores.
4. Delete proposed law requirement for a parent's or guardian's approval of
administration of an alternate assessment to a student with disabilities.
5. Make proposed law effective if and when House Bill No. 373 and Senate Bill
No. 43 of the 2015 R.S. become effective.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.