RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 498 (SB 262) 2016 Regular Session Morrish
Prior law provided for the La. Competency-Based Education Program, including the
development and implementation of statewide content standards for required subjects and
the La. Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) by the state Dept. of Education with
approval of the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Defined
"statewide content standards for required subjects" as statements that define what Louisiana
public elementary and secondary students should know or be able to accomplish at the end
of a specific time period or grade level or at the completion of a course.
Prior law required standards-based assessments for required subjects (English language arts,
math, science, and social studies) to be implemented by BESE and administered in at least
grades three through 11. Required BESE to establish the adequate test scores for determining
successful student performance on the tests. Additionally, required BESE to collect statewide
results from the assessments administered to students in 2014-2015 and 2015-16 in order to
define the basis for student achievement expectations to be used in the school and district
accountability system; not vary a school or district's letter grade from its letter grade from the
2012-2013 school year unless the school or district has improved in its performance.
New law provides that for the 2016-2017 school year BESE shall collect assessment data but
shall not require use of the results for evaluating teacher performance or making placement
decisions for fourth and eighth grade students. Additionally, new law continues the
requirement that the distribution of school and district letter grades shall not vary from that
in the 2012-2013 school year, unless the school or district has improved in its performance.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 14, 2016).
(Adds R.S. 17:24.4(F)(1)(g))