Student Testing Improvement and Accountability Act

Bill: 114-s-1025
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-04-21
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments

Elementary and secondary education
Latest action: action_date: 2015-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-04-21
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Student Testing Improvement and Accountability Act</strong></p> <p>Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the requirement that students be tested against state academic content and achievement standards in mathematics and reading or language arts in each of grades three through eight. </p> <p>Requires, instead, that those tests be administered at least once during: (1) grades 3 through 5, (2) grades 6 through 9, and (3) grades 10 through 12.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1025 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 21, 2015 Mr. Tester introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to clarify when certain academic assessments shall be administered.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Student Testing Improvement and Accountability Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 supports programs to level the playing field for the most vulnerable, including children of poverty, students with disabilities, and English language learners. (2) Prior to 2001, Federal law required States only to test students once per grade span. (3) Following the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 ( Public Law 107–110 ), which amended the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. ), Federal education policy has placed an increased emphasis on testing assessments, requiring students to undergo standardized testing every year in grades 3 through 8. (4) Reducing the frequency of federally required testing will allow more time for student learning and inspire their natural curiosity and creativity. (5) Students will have more time to receive one-on-one instruction and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a well-rounded education and curriculum. (6) Moving away from the practice of annually teaching to the test will empower educators to provide instruction in a way that best inspires and prepares our Nation's next generation of leaders. (7) With grade span testing, our educators will be more able to focus on those students who are most in need but who also lose the most class time preparing for annual tests. (8) Grade span testing will allow States the flexibility to develop more meaningful, tailored assessment systems that provide valid, reliable data. (9) The yearly testing currently required by Federal law should be replaced with grade span testing. 3. Academic assessments Section 1111(b)(3)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)(C) ) is amended— (1) in clause (v)(I)— (A) by striking except as otherwise provided for grades 3 through 8 under clause vii, ; and (B) by inserting and the achievement of students against the challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards after proficiency of students ; (2) by striking clause (vii); and (3) in clause (viii), by striking , (vi), (vii) and inserting and (vi) .