FL S1450

Allows school districts to opt out of statewide standardized assessments and instead administer national, norm-referenced assessments in English Language Arts (grades 3-11), Mathematics (grades 3-8), and Science (elementary and middle school levels).

Requires the Commissioner of Education to maintain a list of pre-2009 national, norm-referenced assessments from which districts may choose and to determine percentile rankings corresponding to achievement levels.

Prohibits negative impacts to districts, schools, and instructional personnel for choosing district-selected assessments instead of statewide standardized assessments, including regarding district and school grades and personnel evaluations.

Exempts students from participation in assessments if they have a medically certified severe cognitive impairment, certified medical complexity, or written exemption from a parent or adult student (with alternative assessment requirements).

Permits paper-based administration of assessments if a school district does not wish to administer them online, and updates school grading system definitions to include district-selected, national, norm-referenced assessments.