Changes to Assessments in Public Schools - PDF document

4.1.2015 House Bill 15 - 1323 – Changes to Assessments in Public Schools R epresentatives Buckner and Wilson Introduced Draft Summary Overview HB15 - 1323 codifies the recommendations of the HB14 - 1202 Standards and Assessments Task Force. The bill makes substantive changes to the frequency and amount of assessments in K - 12 and addresses technology concerns related to assessment administration . Proposed Changes  Prohibits the Department of Education from requiring state assessments in 11 th or 12 th grade. A local education provider may choose to administer a state assessment to students enrolled in the 11 th or 12 th grade, in which case the Department must pay the cost of administration. (Page 4, Lines 17 - 24)  CDE must administer state assessments in a format that would allow paper and pencil as applicable and if requested by a local education provider or a student’s parent .  School Readiness o School readiness a ssessments are required only during the fall semester of kindergarten, with local option to monitor progress . (Page 16, Lines 10 - 27) o A school or district may replace the literacy component of the s chool readiness a ssessment with a READ Act a ssessment in the kindergarten year . (Page 16, Lines 18 - 23) o If a stu dent is identified as having a significant reading d eficiency , s chools shall include the student’s READ Plan as a component of the student’s school readiness plan . (Page 16, Lines 5 - 9)  READ Act o Each local education provider is required to administer the READ Act assessment within the first 9 0 days of the school’s calendar year to students in kindergarten . (Page 14, Lines 10 - 13) o A local education prov ider is not required to administer the approved interim reading assessment to a student who demonstrates grade - level proficiency on the initial READ Act assessment for the remainder of that school year. (Page 15, Lines 2 - 7) o If a student does not demonstrat e grade level proficiency on the initial READ Act assessment , the teacher shall administer a second assessment within 6 0 days after the previous assessment to determine whether the student has an SRD . (Page 14, Lines 18 - 22)  Englis h Language A rts and Mathem atics o CDE shall administer state assessments in Englis h language arts and mathematics to all students in grades 3 – 8 and in grade 10 . (Page 4, Lines 3 - 7 ) o A local education provider may choose to administer a state assessment in English language arts or mathematics or both to students enrolled in 9 th grade, in which case the Department must pay the cost of the administration. (Page 4, Line 24 to Page 5, Line 1)  Science and Social Studies o CDE shall select the specific grades in which to administer state as sessment s in s cience and social studies to ensure that students are tested once each in ele mentary , middle and high school. (Page 4, Lines 8 - 16)  College Entrance E xam o Students in 11 th grade will be required to take a curriculum - based, achievement college entrance exam. At a minimum, that exam must test in the areas of reading, writing, math and science. CDE will select, administer and pay for the exam. (Page 5, Lines 16 to Page 6, Line 2)  English Language Learners o The Department must request a waiver of federal law to enable a local education provider to administer a state assessment that is in a language other than English for up to five years to a student who is an English language l earner. (Page 8, Line 24 to Page 9, Line 14) Assessment Current Policy HB - 1323 Proposed Changes School Readiness - Implement individual school r eadiness assessments choosing from a menu of approved assessments (covering 11 domains, administered 3 times per year) and individual school readiness plans . - Assessment required only during the fall semester of kindergarten, with local option to monitor progress . - A school or district may replace the literacy component of the school readiness assessment wi th a READ Act a ssessment in the kindergarten year . - If a student is identified as having an SRD, include the student’s READ Plan as a component of the student’s individualized readiness plan . READ Act - Given at the beginning and end of each year , with supplemental assessments used throughout the year as necessary to create a body of evidence . - Students who do not show proficiency are re - tested within 30 days. - Each local education provider is required to administer the READ Act assessment within the first 90 days of the school’s calendar year to students in kindergarten . - A local education provider is not required to administer the approved interim reading ass essment to a student who demonstrates grade - level proficiency on the initial READ Act assessment for the remainder of that school year . - If a student does not demonstrate grade level proficiency on the initial READ Act assessment, the teacher shall admini ster a second assessment within 60 days after the previous assessment to determine whether the student has an SRD . PARCC – English* and Math* - Given once per year in 3 rd through 11 th grade. - Federal requirements are met with assessments in 3 rd through 8 th grade and one administration in high school. - CDE shall administer state assessments of Englis h language arts and math in grades 3 – 8 and once in grade 10. CMAS – Science* - Given once per year in 5 th , 8 th and 12 th grade. Federal requirements are met with one administration in each of elementary, middle and high school. - Given once in el ementary, once in middle school and once in high school. CMAS – Social Studies - Given once per year in 4 th , 7 th and 12 th grade . - Given once in elementary, once in middle school, and once in high school. College Entrance Exam - Required in 11 th grade (Currently the ACT) . - Required in 11 th grade and must test reading, writing, math and science. CDE will select, administer and pay for college entrance exam. *Administered to comply with federal requirements