school students in grades three through eight, to include those students as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and by Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. To reduce the number of days of testing, to the extent possible, field test items must be embedded with the annual assessments. To ensure that school districts maintain the high standard of accountability established in the Education Accountability Act, performance level results reported on school and district report cards must meet consistently high levels in all four core content areas. For students with documented disabilities, the assessments developed by the Department of Education shall include the appropriate modifications and accommodations with necessary supplemental devices as outlined in a student’s Individualized Education Program and as stated in the Administrative Guidelines and Procedures for Testing Students with Documented Disabilities.” College entrance and career readiness assessments SECTION 8. Section 5918325 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 281 of 2016, is further amended to read: “Section 5918325. (A) Beginning in eleventh grade for the first time in School Year 20172018 and subsequent years, all students must be offered a college entrance assessment that is from a provider secured by the department. In addition, all students entering the eleventh grade for the first time in School Year 20172018 and subsequent years must be administered a career readiness assessment. The results of the assessments must be provided to each student, their respective schools, and to the State to: (1) assist students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors in developing individual graduation plans and in selecting courses aligned with each student’s future ambitions; (2) promote South Carolina’s Work Ready Communities initiative; and (3) meet federal and state accountability requirements. (B) Students subsequently may use the results of these assessments to apply to college or to enter careers. The results must be added as part of each student’s permanent record and maintained at the department for at least ten years. The purpose of the results is to provide instructional information to assist students, parents, and teachers to plan for each student’s course selection. This course selection might include remediation courses, dualenrollment or dualcredit courses, advanced placement courses/International Baccalaureate, internships, career and
(7) When standards are subsequently revised, the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and the Education Oversight Committee shall approve assessments pursuant to Section 5918320.” Tenth grade assessments SECTION 9. Section 5918340 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 282 of 2008, is further amended to read: “Section 5918340. High schools shall offer statefunded PSAT, preACT, or tenth grade Aspire tests to each tenth grade student in order to assess and identify curricular areas that need to be strengthened and reinforced. Schools and districts shall use these assessments as diagnostic tools to provide academic assistance to students whose scores reflect the need for such assistance. Schools and districts shall use these assessments to provide guidance and direction for parents and students as they plan for postsecondary experiences.” Annual assessment reports, deadline exception SECTION 10. Section 5918360 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 282 of 2008, is further amended to read: “Section 5918360. Beginning with the 2010 assessment administration, the Department of Education is directed to provide assessment results annually on individual students and schools by August first, except when assessments are being updated and new achievement standards are being set, in a manner and format that is easily understood by parents and the public. In addition, the school assessment results must be presented in a format easily understood by the faculty and in a manner that is useful for curriculum review and instructional improvement. The department is to provide longitudinally matched student data from the standards-based assessments and include information on the performance of subgroups of students within the school. The department must work with the Division of Accountability in developing the formats of the assessment results. Schools and districts are responsible for disseminating this information to parents.” Annual report cards SECTION 11. Section 5918900 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 289 of 2014, is further amended to read: