SB 774 - Education Accountability

• Delays full implementation of online English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments until school districts certify their technology infrastructure, connectivity, and capacity are ready; requires the Commissioner of Education to provide nonelectronic alternatives if districts are not ready.

• Prohibits use of ELA and Mathematics assessments for promotion, retention, or graduation purposes until the 2016-2017 school year; allows districts to use multiple assessment types to measure student performance during the transition period.

• Holds school grades and school improvement ratings in abeyance for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years; requires full implementation of a new performance accountability system by the 2016-2017 school year.

• Reduces the percentage of teacher and administrator evaluations based on student learning assessments from at least 50 percent to 30 percent, and authorizes (rather than requires) school districts to use specified formulas for measuring student learning.

• Eliminates the grade 11 ELA assessment requirement and allows PSAT, SAT, and ACT scores to be used in lieu of a common placement test for assessing college readiness.