SB15-073: Reducing Assessments Administered in Public Schools

• Limits state board of education's authority to adopt statewide assessments only to those required by federal law, repealing the requirement to adopt postsecondary and workforce planning/preparation assessments.

• Requires the state board to request a federal waiver allowing ACT (standardized college entrance exam) as the sole statewide assessment for grades 9-12, with the commissioner notifying education committees when the waiver is submitted and replied to.

• Local education providers must notify the state department which grade levels they will administer statewide assessments in subjects where federal law allows administration within specified grade intervals, with restrictions on administering to twelfth grade students.

• Reduces interim literacy assessments in kindergarten through third grade from continuous administration to up to 3 times per school year, and allows schools to use school readiness assessment results instead for kindergarteners.

• Local education providers must ensure teachers assess students in non-statewide tested subjects rather than formally adopting assessments, and establishes that local assessments are managed differently from state testing requirements.