MS HB665

Prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring students to pass end-of-course tests administered under the Subject Area Testing Program as a condition for graduation, effective beginning the 2014-2015 school year.

Requires the State Board to adopt a policy mandating end-of-course testing only as required by federal No Child Left Behind and Title I requirements, but students who fail these tests cannot be prohibited from graduating if they meet standard diploma requirements.

Amends Section 37-16-7 to clarify that while districts must measure mastery of minimum academic skills, passage of end-of-course tests shall not be required for graduation.

Modifies career track program requirements to specify that state subject area tests shall be used only for proficiency measurement and not as a graduation requirement.

Amends High School Equivalency Diploma Option program provisions to require end-of-course testing for enrolled students but prohibit passage of these tests as a condition for receiving a High School Equivalency Diploma.