CO HB1123

School district boards, cooperative services boards, and charter school governing boards may adopt a resolution to administer statewide assessments in English language arts, mathematics, and science only to the extent required by federal law under the No Child Left Behind Act.

A governing board adopting the resolution must still administer English language arts and mathematics assessments annually in grades 3-8 and in one high school grade (selected by the board), and science assessment annually in one grade span each from grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12.

Governing boards adopting the resolution are not required to administer the college entrance exam (ACT) to eleventh grade students.

Governing boards may separately adopt resolutions to measure literacy skills in kindergarten through second grade and school readiness through methods other than state-mandated tests, while still ensuring students with significant reading deficiencies reach reading competency by third grade.

Governing boards must submit copies of any adopted resolutions to the Department of Education and State Board of Education, which must adjust the Colorado growth model and accreditation performance indicators to accommodate the alternative testing schedules and measurement methods.