Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

Mississippi House Bill HB121

Introduced

1/4/22

Refer

1/4/22

Failed

2/1/22

Caption

Statewide Assessment Program; require SBE to use ACT Aspire as summative assessment.

Impact

The proposed legislation will have a significant impact on existing educational assessment protocols in Mississippi. It mandates a move away from any assessment frameworks previously aligned with the Common Core State Standards. By focusing on a singular assessment entity, HB121 aims to streamline the evaluation process, reduce inconsistencies across testing, and improve the accountability of educational outcomes. Moreover, it includes provisions for a job skills assessment to allow students to gain a nationally recognized career readiness certificate, enhancing workplace employability skills for Mississippi graduates.

Summary

House Bill 121 seeks to revamp the educational assessment framework in Mississippi by mandating that the State Board of Education contract with a single entity for the development and administration of a comprehensive statewide assessment program. This program will utilize the ACT Aspire assessments for students in grades 3 through 10, along with Algebra I and English II. The goal is to provide a standardized measure of individual student progress while ensuring that the assessments are aligned with Mississippi's College and Career-Ready Standards. The full implementation is scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Contention

Despite the bill's objectives, there are notable points of contention. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential monopolization of assessment services, which may limit competition and innovation within the educational sector. Additionally, the prohibition against contracting with entities associated with the PARCC assessments suggests a political undertone to the bill that could alienate stakeholders who advocate for comprehensive education reform. The amendments to existing laws pertaining to special education diplomas may also provoke discussion about educational equity for exceptional children with disabilities.