HF3421 Summary

• Establishes a system of high school assessments in reading, writing, algebra, and biology aligned with state academic standards to measure college and career readiness for students entering grade 8 in 2010-2011 and later.

• Requires all general education students to achieve passing scores in reading and writing on end-of-course exams to graduate, with multiple alternative methods available including ACT/SAT scores, CLEP exams, and college coursework for qualifying students.

• Creates end-of-course exams in algebra and biology where exam results comprise 25 percent of the student's overall course grade, or 50 percent for schools identified as highly misaligned for two consecutive years.

• Mandates computerized testing capability for reading and writing exams beginning the second year of implementation, with results available to schools within three school days, and allows for remediation and frequent retesting.

• Requires the Assessment Advisory Committee to develop alternative methods for students to demonstrate college and career readiness, including CLEP credits, ACT/SAT college readiness scores, and advanced coursework with grades of C or better.