FL S1450

Suspends use of statewide standardized ELA and Mathematics assessment results for student promotion, retention, graduation requirements, and personnel evaluations for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years.

Requires grade 3 promotion or retention decisions to be based on student academic performance, report card, and evidence of mastery of Florida's ELA standards instead of standardized test results.

Allows grade 10 students to satisfy ELA assessment graduation requirements by earning a concordant score on the SAT or ACT as determined by the Commissioner of Education.

Holds school grades in abeyance for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, with standardized assessment performance serving only as an informational baseline; eliminates requirement for schools to implement turnaround options in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years.

Requires the State Board of Education to adopt and implement a new school grading system by July 1, 2017, that is equitable, reliable, timely, rigorous, and affordable, incorporating academic standards, classroom instruction, technology, and assessments.