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 669 Original 2015 Regular Session Reynolds
Abstract: Provides content and other requirements regarding student assessments; provides relative
to procurement of such 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. 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. Requires BESE to establish the adequate
test scores for determining successful student performance on the tests.
Proposed law retains present law and provides further with respect to the assessments required by
present law.
Proposed law requires that the assessments include questions or test items that:
(1)Require students to write and demonstrate their work.
(2)Allow for direct comparability of student achievement in other states.
(3)Have been reviewed by La. educators to verify alignment to state content standards and to
determine their validity, reliability, and overall quality.
(4)Include test questions or items that were developed by La. educators and used for the
2014-2015 state assessments, or that are identical to such questions and items, and questions
or items to measure college and career readiness.
Proposed law also requires the following regarding such assessments:
(1)They shall include annual full sample tests and aligned diagnostic and benchmarking tools
to assist parents and educators in supporting student achievement. (2)Testing shall be streamlined to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary state testing, particularly
in the high school grades.
(3)They shall be administered and scored in time to allow receipt and public reporting of results
from one school year in advance of the start of the following school year.
(4)The department shall provide for reporting of final results disaggregated by student
subgroups.
Proposed law, relative to procurement of assessments, authorizes the Dept. of Education to enter into
a contract with a vendor or vendors to procure assessments. Requires such procurement to comply
with present law relative to procurement subject to the following stipulations:
(1)Any review or audit of a request for proposals or contract shall be conducted for the sole
purpose of determining whether it complies with La. procurement laws. Prohibits
interference with or circumvention of BESE authority.
(2)Any meeting of a procurement advisory council or procurement support team shall be held
in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.
(3)The commissioner of administration or his designee shall acknowledge receipt of a proposed
request for proposals or contract within three business days and shall render his
determination within 30 calendar days after receipt.
(Adds R.S. 17:24.4(F)(2) and (5))