H.B. 686 Summary

• Waives all state assessment requirements for the 2020-2021 school year for public school districts, community schools, STEM schools, chartered nonpublic schools, and state schools for the deaf and blind, with exception for any federally-required assessments that the Department of Education determines necessary after seeking a federal waiver.

• Prohibits the Department of Education from publishing state report card ratings, assigning letter grades, ranking schools, or submitting preliminary report card data for the 2020-2021 school year.

• Ensures students not administered assessments in 2020-2021 are counted in enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year and that year does not count toward student withdrawal determinations or scholarship renewal eligibility.

• Prevents the absence of 2020-2021 report card ratings from creating new starting points for multi-year sanctions or penalties, with previously-imposed sanctions remaining in effect for 2021-2022.

• Declares Section 1 an emergency measure effective immediately to ensure implementation before the first day of the school year.