HB 1429 - Freedom to Succeed Act

• Creates the "Freedom to Succeed Act" establishing the American College Test (ACT) as the end-of-instruction test for high school students in English II, English III, United States History, Biology I, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.

• Sets a composite ACT score of 16 as the proficient score; students must take the ACT prior to graduation but are not required to achieve proficiency to graduate.

• Requires students scoring below proficient on the ACT to receive remediation or intervention and allows up to 3 retakes per calendar year; students may take an approved alternative test if they do not achieve proficiency.

• Modifies criterion-referenced testing requirements for grades 3-8, specifying tests in reading and mathematics for grades 3-4 and 6-7, with additional tests in science, social studies, and writing for grades 5 and 8.

• Amends funding provisions under the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005 to reference Section 1210.508; establishes that school districts without remediation and intervention funding cannot release annual test reports; repeals Section 1210.523.