2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 190
BY SENATOR MURRAY
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Education to study the reliability and validity of the
Louisiana Public School Accountability and Assessment.
WHEREAS, in accordance with R.S. 17:391.2, et seq., the state superintendent of
education is required to develop and implement a program to provide for educational
accountability; and
WHEREAS, since 1999, the state has issued public school and district performance
scores; and
WHEREAS, the current system uses a system of letter grades whereby public schools
and districts are assigned a grade of A, B, C, D, or F, or T; and
WHEREAS, the letter grade for elementary schools, grades kindergarten through
sixth, is based one hundred percent on student achievement on annual assessments in English
language arts, math, science, and social studies, with additional points for students who are
academically behind who show significant improvement; and
WHEREAS, the letter grade for middle schools, grades seven and eight, is based
ninety-five percent on the annual assessments with five percent based on credits earned
toward the student's ninth grade year, with additional points for students who are
academically behind who show significant improvement; and
WHEREAS, the letter grade for high schools is based twenty-five percent on the
ACT score, twenty-five percent on End-of-Course tests, twenty-five percent on graduation
cohort rate, and twenty-five percent on graduation index, along with rewards for AP, IB, and
dual enrollment coursework, with additional points for students who are academically behind
who show significant improvement; and
WHEREAS, other states have adopted similar systems to provide for an
accountability system that uses a wider variety of data to determine the performance score
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for a public school or public school system; and
WHEREAS, the current system in Louisiana applies the same standard and
expectations to all schools of the same level, elementary, middle or high school, despite the
fact that individual schools may have varying missions; and
WHEREAS, many school districts have alternative schools that are dedicated to
serving students with significant academic or discipline issues, magnet schools, or gifted
programs within traditional schools that are selective admissions schools that provide higher
academic opportunities; and
WHEREAS, this differentiation in mission is found among the various public charter
schools in Louisiana as well; and
WHEREAS, the variation in mission among various public schools calls into
question whether applying the same accountability system using the limited elements to
determine the performance score provides the best representation to parents and the state as
to the level of educational performance of the public school.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Department of Education, in consultation with public
school boards, charter school operators, educational and statistical professionals, and
members of academia, to study the reliability and validity of the current school and district
accountability and the performance scores resulting therefrom.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a review of the method and
manner that other states conduct school and district accountability systems.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study consider the criteria reviewed at the
elementary, middle and high school levels in determining school and district performance
scores.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education issue a report of
the study and its findings, specifically a comparison of the method and manner that other
states are using to conduct school and district performance scores and the public education
accountability system, recommendations as to the appropriate elements and factors to be
considered in determining school and district performance scores, and whether the elements
and factors utilized should be the same for schools that have differing core missions.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of the report be provided to the House
and Senate education committees on or before March 1, 2016, and be published in a readily
ascertainable manner on the website maintained by the Louisiana Department of Education.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
state superintendent of education.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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