Plain English Breakdown
The exact timeline for implementation and approval by the federal government is uncertain.
Changing State Tests for High School Students
This bill requires Tennessee's Department of Education to request changes from the U.S. Department of Education to remove end-of-course tests and allow alternative assessments like ACT or SAT for high school students.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Tennessee Department of Education to submit a request to the U.S. Department of Education to amend Tennessee’s ESSA plan by removing all end-of-course assessment requirements for grades nine through twelve.
- Allows high school students in grades nine through twelve to take the ACT, SAT, or another postsecondary readiness assessment approved by the commissioner annually.
- Uses student performance on these new assessments for accountability purposes at the student, school, and district levels.
Who It Names or Affects
- High school students in grades 9 through 12
- Schools and districts that serve high school students
Terms To Know
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- A federal law about education that sets goals for schools to help all students succeed.
- End-of-course assessment
- Tests given at the end of a school course to measure what students have learned.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify how much it will cost or who will pay for the new assessments.
- It is unclear if and when the U.S. Department of Education will agree to change Tennessee's education plan as requested.