CO SB215

Prohibits the Department of Education from requiring local education providers to administer state assessments in eleventh or twelfth grade, though providers may voluntarily offer these assessments at state expense.

Requires the Department to provide state assessments in paper-and-pencil format upon request and mandates each local education provider adopt a written policy allowing parents to choose paper-and-pencil testing.

Clarifies kindergarten literacy and school readiness assessment timelines, requiring teachers to reassess students within 30 days if initial scores indicate potential reading deficiency, and exempts students at grade-level from further testing that year.

Ensures all approved reading assessments are available in pen-or-pencil format and includes Spanish-normed assessments for students whose native language is Spanish.

Extends the Standards and Assessments Task Force for one additional year (until July 1, 2016) with 14 members appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, shifting some appointment authority from the state board of education chair to the governor.