CS/HB 7069 - Education Accountability Summary

• School Opening Dates: Changes uniform school opening requirement from "14 days before Labor Day" to "August 10" each year, with academically high-performing districts required to comply.

• Assessment Changes: Modifies statewide assessment program to include ELA assessments replacing Reading/Writing tests; requires all students in certain courses to take end-of-course (EOC) assessments; implements computer-based testing with paper accommodations available.

• Assessment Scheduling and Reporting: Requires Commissioner to publish uniform assessment calendar; mandates districts and schools publish testing schedules on websites; establishes 5 percent limit on school hours used for testing without parental consent.

• Student Progression and Reading: Requires Grade 3 students to score at least Level 2 on English Language Arts assessment for promotion to Grade 4; provides intensive reading instruction for deficient readers; allows good cause exemptions with specific criteria.

• Teacher Evaluation Reform: Increases student performance component to 50 percent of teacher evaluations; requires measurement of student learning growth over multiple years; repeals bonus pay provisions and requires independent verification of new assessments' validity before publication.