CO HB1234

Department of Education shall investigate and review options for selecting state assessments in mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies, including allowing local education providers to select and administer their own assessments for the state accountability system.

Department must evaluate available resources and anticipated costs to the state, methods for local education providers to create or select assessments, quality assurance processes, and assessment methods used by other states that provide greater flexibility to school districts.

Department shall report study results to the State Board and Joint Education Committees as part of the 2016 presentation required by statute.

Department of Education shall apply to the federal government for innovative assessment and accountability demonstration authority under the Every Student Succeeds Act, with notification to legislative education committees upon submission and receipt of federal response.

$39,600 appropriated from the state education fund to the department of education for fiscal year 2016-17 to implement the assessment study; the statutory study provisions expire July 1, 2017.