Education

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide details on the consequences if parents do not comply with testing requirements.

Changes to Tennessee Home School Testing Requirements

This bill changes how home school students in grades five, seven, and nine are tested and requires parents to consult with schools if their children do not meet proficiency standards.

What This Bill Does

• Requires home school students in grades five, seven, or nine to take a standardized test chosen by the parent-teacher that provides national comparison data for English language arts and mathematics.
• Allows parents to choose between a nationally normed test proctored by someone unrelated to the student or state-approved tests used in public schools.
• Requires consultation with school officials if home school students do not meet proficiency levels on their chosen standardized tests.

Who It Names or Affects

• Home school students in grades five, seven, and nine
• Parents of home school students who must ensure their children take the required standardized tests.
• Local directors of schools who will consult with parents if test results show a lack of proficiency.

Terms To Know

proficiency level

The standard or grade-level expectation that students should meet in their studies.

nationally normed analytics

Test results compared to a national sample of test-takers, showing how the student's performance ranks nationally.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if parents do not comply with testing requirements.
• It is unclear how home school students will access outside financial assistance for advanced courses and college entrance exams.

Official Summary Text

Subject to exceptions for home school students who are enrolled in a church school, present law requires a parent-teacher conducting a home school to comply with administration by the commissioner of education, or by a professional testing service that is
approved by the LEA, to home school students of the same state board approved secure standardized tests required of public school students in grades five, seven, and nine. This bill instead requires a parent-teacher conducting a home school to ensure

tha
t if the parent-teacher's student is in any of the grades five, seven, or nine, that the student is administered:

(
1
) A standardized test selected by the parent-teacher that provides nationally normed analytics in the subjects of English language arts and mathematics, that is proctored by an individual who is not related to the student, and that is recorded by the dev
eloper of the nationally normed examination, at the expense of the parent-teacher; or

(
2
) The same state board-approved standardized tests required of public school students in the same grade as the parent-teacher's student that is administered by the commissioner of education, or by a professional testing service approved by the LEA
.

Present law also requires
a parent-teacher conducting a home school to comply with consultation between the director of schools and the parent-teacher if the home school student falls three to six months behind the home school student's appropriate grade level, based on the test r
equired in (1) or (2) above.

If a home school student falls six to nine months behind the home school student's appropriate grade level in the home school student's reading, language arts, mathematics, or science test scores or such of these areas as are actually tested for the stud
ent's grade level, based on the required tests required, the parent is required to consult with a licensed teacher having a certificate or endorsement in the grade level or course or subject matter in which consultation is sought. The parent and teacher
ar
e required to design a remedial course to help the child obtain the child's appropriate grade level. The parent is required to report the remedial course for the child to the local director of schools.

If a home school student falls more than one year behind the home school student's appropriate grade level in the home school student's comprehensive test score for two consecutive tests based on the required tests and if the child is not learning disable
d in the opinion of a teacher licensed to teach at the child's grade level, the local director of schools is authorized to require the parents to enroll the child in a public, private, or church-related school.

If a test indicates that a home school student is one year or more behind the home school student's appropriate grade level, the same test must be administered to the child not more than one year later.

This bill revises the graduated schedule of remedial actions described above.

Under this bill,

if
a home school student does not test proficient in a
tested
subject matter
,
as demonstrated by the student scoring a performance level rating of "approaching" in the subject matter tested on a
standardized
test
selected by the parent,
or by the student scoring below the fiftieth percentile, but above the twenty-fifth percentile, on the subject matter tested on a
state-board approved standardized
test, then the parent-teacher
is required to
consult with the director of schools

If a home school student does not test proficient in the
tested
subject matter, as demonstrated by the student scoring a performance level rating of "below" in the subject matter tested on a test on a
standardized
test
selected by the parent
or by the student scoring below the twenty-fifth percentile on
state-board approved standardized
test, then
this bill requires
:

(
1
) The same test be readministered to the student within one year of the date on which the first test was administered to the student; and

(
2
) The parent-teacher
to
consult with a
licensed t
eacher having a certificate or endorsement in the grade level or subject matter for which the parent-teacher's student did not test proficient. The parent-teacher and consulting teacher
are required to
design remedial coursework to help the student obtain proficiency for the student's grade level in the respective subject area. The parent-teacher
is required to
report the remedial coursework designed for the to the director of schools
.

If a home school student completes the requirements
for students scoring "below" or below the twenty-fifth percentile
in the same subject matter for two consecutive test administrations and the student is not diagnosed as learning disabled by a qualified medical professional, then the director of schools
will be authorized to
require the parent to enroll the student in a public, private, or church-related school
.

Present law requires a
public school that administers the advanced placement
(
AP
)
and

Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(
PSAT/NMSQT
)
examinations
to
provide notice of the dates on which the school will administer the examinations on the school's website
. Present law further requires that h
ome school students be permitted to take the AP and PSAT/NMSQT examinations at any public school offering such examinations
. This bill instead requires that a
public school that administers an a
dvanced course or preparatory college entrance examination provide notice of the following on its website:

(
1
) The date and time for which an advanced course or preparatory college entrance examination is offered;

(
2
) The student capacity and availability of an advanced course or preparatory college entrance examination being offered; and

(
3
) The availability of outside financial assistance for low-income and at-risk students to assist such students in taking an advanced course and preparatory college entrance examination.

For purposes of this bill,
"
a
dvanced course" means a college-level course administered to high school students for a particular subject area that may earn students college credit through a standardized examination that includes, but is not limited to, an
AP
program
.
"Preparatory college entrance examination" means a test administered to students for the purpose of preparation for a college entrance exam that includes the

PSAT/NMSQT
,
Pre-ACT
,
and CLT10 administered by Classic Learning Initiatives, LLC.
Th
is bill requires a
public school
to
allow a home school student to take an advanced course or preparatory college entrance examination offered by the public school if space is available.

This bill authorizes a student who meets all other qualifications for recognition as a Tennessee Tri Star Scholar upon high school graduation to supplement an equivalent score on the
Classic Learning Test (CLT)
for a score of 19 or higher on the ACT in order to receive the recognition.

Present law authorizes six pilot after school educational programs to increase performance for at-risk students on the ACT and SAT. This bill adds increased performance on the CLT as one of the program objectives.

One of the qualifying criteria for an LEA to be a "high performing school district" under present law is exhibiting an average student ACT score of 21 or higher or the concordant score on the SAT. This bill adds an average score on the CLT concordant wit
h a 21 on the ACT to the list of qualifying scores.

Present law requires that schools include in their school improvement plans specific goals for improving SAT and SAT scores, where applicable. This bill adds improvement of CLT scores to the list of assessments.

The Move On When Ready Act provides that one of the requirements for
early graduation and unconditional entry into a public two-year institution or conditional entry into a public four-year institution
is s
cor
ing
on either the ACT or the SAT at or above benchmarks set by
THEC
for math and English
. This bill adds the CLT to the tests that may be used to meet such
qualification.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2636
By Roberts

HOUSE BILL 1729
By Slater
HB1729
011100
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3050(b)(5), is amended by
deleting subdivision (A) and substituting:
(A) Ensure that if the parent-teacher's student is in any of the grades five (5),
seven (7), or nine (9), that the student is administered:
(i) A standardized test selected by the parent-teacher that provides
nationally normed analytics in the subjects of English language arts and
mathematics, that is proctored by an individual who is not related to the student,
and that is recorded by the developer of the nationally normed examination, at
the expense of the parent-teacher; or
(ii) The same state board-approved standardized tests required of public
school students in the same grade as the parent-teacher's student that is
administered by the commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee,
or by a professional testing service approved by the LEA; provided, however, that
the test for grade nine (9) is not an end-of-course examination required by the
state board of education pursuant to § 49-6-6001;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3050(b)(5)(B), is amended by
deleting subdivision (iii) and substituting:
(iii) All results from tests administered pursuant to this subdivision (b)(5) must be
provided to the parent-teacher, the director of schools, and the state board of education;

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SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3050(b), is amended by
deleting subdivision (6) and substituting:
(6)
(A) If a home school student does not test proficient in a subject matter
tested pursuant to subdivision (b)(5), as demonstrated by the student scoring a
performance level rating of "approaching" in the subject matter tested on a test
administered pursuant to subdivision (b)(5)(A)(ii) or by the student scoring below
the fiftieth percentile, but above the twenty-fifth percentile, on the subject matter
tested on a test administered pursuant to subdivision (b)(5)(A)(i), then the parent-
teacher shall consult with the director of schools;
(B) If a home school student does not test proficient in the subject matter
tested pursuant to subdivision (b)(5), as demonstrated by the student scoring a
performance level rating of "below" in the subject matter tested on a test
administered pursuant to subdivision (b)(5)(A)(ii) or by the student scoring below
the twenty-fifth percentile on the subject matter tested on a test administered
pursuant to subdivision (b)(5)(A)(i), then:
(i) The same test must be readministered to the student within
one (1) year of the date on which the first test was administered to the
student, notwithstanding the required testing schedule in subdivision
(b)(5)(B), if applicable; and
(ii) The parent-teacher shall consult with a teacher licensed by the
state board of education and having a certificate or endorsement in the
grade level or subject matter for which the parent-teacher's student did
not test proficient. The parent-teacher and consulting teacher shall
design remedial coursework to help the student obtain proficiency for the

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student's grade level in the respective subject area. The parent-teacher
shall report the remedial coursework designed for the student pursuant to
this subdivision (b)(6)(B)(ii) to the director of schools;
(C) If a home school student completes the requirements of subdivision
(b)(6)(B) in the same subject matter for two (2) consecutive test administrations
and the student is not diagnosed as learning disabled by a qualified medical
professional, then the director of schools may require the parent of the student to
enroll the student in a public, private, or church-related school, in accordance
with this part, and the parent shall have all rights provided by law to respond to
this requirement; and
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3050(f), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(f)
(1) As used in this subsection (f):
(A) "Advanced course" means a college-level course
administered to high school students for a particular subject area that
may earn students college credit through a standardized examination that
includes, but is not limited to, an advanced placement program offered by
the College Board; and
(B) "Preparatory college entrance examination" means a test
administered to students for the purpose of preparation for a college
entrance exam that includes the:
(i) Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test (PSAT/NMSQT) administered by the College Board and
National Merit Scholarship Corporation;

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(ii) Pre-ACT administered by ACT; and
(iii) CLT10 administered by Classic Learning Initiatives,
LLC.
(2) A public school that administers an advanced course or preparatory
college entrance examination shall provide notice of the following on its website:
(A) The date and time for which an advanced course or
preparatory college entrance examination is offered;
(B) The student capacity and availability of an advanced course
or preparatory college entrance examination being offered; and
(C) The availability of outside financial assistance for low-income
and at-risk students to assist such students in taking an advanced course
and preparatory college entrance examination.
(3) A public school shall allow a home school student to take an
advanced course or preparatory college entrance examination offered by the
public school if space is available.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-6010(a)(1), is amended by
adding "or Classic Learning Test (CLT)" after "SAT".
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-705(a), is amended by adding
the following new subdivisions:
( ) "CLT" means the Classic Learning Test administered by Classic Learning
Initiatives, LLC;
( ) "CLT10" means a college preparatory examination administered by Classic
Learning Initiatives, LLC, to prepare students for the CLT;
SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-705(c), is amended by deleting
subdivision (1) and substituting:

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(1) The purpose of the pilot after school educational programs is to increase
performance for at-risk students on the ACT, SAT, or CLT examinations, in order to
expand the number of students in the at-risk population eligible for lottery scholarships
and to increase the abilities of students to excel in postsecondary education. The
programs must serve at-risk students in grades seven through nine (7-9). The programs
must prepare students to take the EXPLORE and PLAN ACT preparatory examinations,
the PSAT/NMSQT preparatory examination, or the CLT10 preparatory examination and
eventually to take the ACT, SAT, or CLT examinations.
SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-705(d)(2), is amended by
deleting subdivision (A) and substituting:
(A) Academic tutoring and skills development in subjects covered by EXPLORE,
PLAN, and ACT examinations; PSAT/NMSQT and SAT examinations; or CLT10 and
CLT examinations; and
SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-2-702(a)(2), is amended by
deleting subdivision (B) and substituting:
(B) Exhibits an average student ACT score of 21 or higher, or the concordant
equivalent score on the SAT or Classic Learning Test (CLT) or higher; provided, that
prior to an LEA using the average student ACT, SAT, or CLT score, at least thirty (30)
students within the LEA or at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the graduating class,
whichever is larger, took the ACT, SAT, or CLT;
SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-613(a), is amended by
deleting "proficiency, graduation rates, ACT or SAT scores where applicable" and substituting
"proficiency; graduation rates; ACT, SAT, or Classic Learning Test (CLT) scores where
applicable;".

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SECTION 11. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-8103(c)(4), is amended by
deleting "either the ACT or the SAT" and substituting "the ACT, SAT, or Classic Learning Test
(CLT)".
SECTION 12. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.