Provides relative to contracts by the state Dept. of Education for English language arts and math assessments for the 2015-2016 school year (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)
Impact
One significant impact of HB 542 is the clear directive for the Department of Education to adhere to strict procurement standards when selecting assessment vendors. The legislation enforces a framework that requires transparency and compliance with the Louisiana Procurement Code, ensuring that any subcontract-related information is reported promptly to maintain accountability. This structured approach is designed to enhance the reliability of the assessments administered to students across grades three through eight as well as those involved in end-of-course assessments for high school grades.
Summary
House Bill 542 aims to amend existing laws regarding the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program, specifically focusing on the contracts for assessments in English language arts and mathematics for the 2015-2016 school year. The bill mandates that the Department of Education must enter into a one-year contract for these assessments, stipulating that less than fifty percent of the assessment questions may come from materials developed by federally funded consortia. This measure seeks to limit the influence of outside agencies in creating educational standards and assessments within Louisiana schools.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment surrounding HB 542 is generally positive, with many education stakeholders recognizing the need for clarity and standardization in the assessment process. Supporters argue that this bill reinforces the state’s commitment to educational integrity by ensuring that assessments reflect local educational priorities rather than external influences. However, there may be some criticisms regarding the bill's limitations on sources for assessment questions, particularly on the potential narrowing of educational input from outside experts in the field.
Contention
Contention mainly arises from the provisions that restrict the origins of assessment content while potentially sidelining valuable educational expertise from broader sources. Critics may argue that this could limit the effectiveness of assessments and not adequately prepare students for future academic challenges if the questions developed are not diverse enough. Moreover, the bill's expiration clause—which renders the provisions null after July 1, 2016—could lead to uncertainty about the sustainability of these educational standards unless further measures are taken to extend or adapt these regulations.
Prohibits implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments and provides for continuation of La. Educational Assessment Program tests (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
Prohibits administration of Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers assessments and provides for continuation of La. Educational Assessment Program tests and the standards on which such tests are based (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
Provides relative to the development, review, and adoption of state content standards and related assessments for public school students (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Provides for the Educational Excellence for Louisiana Commission to develop content and performance standards, curriculum, and assessments for elementary and secondary education. (gov sig) (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)
Provides relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, parent petitions for certain schools to be transferred to the RSD, charter school authorizers, and course providers (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)