SCH CD-STATE ASSESSMENTS

Amends the School Code. With regard to State assessments, provides that beginning no later than the 2020-2021 school year, the State Board of Education shall annually assess all students in reading and mathematics in kindergarten through grade 3 to meet the goals and standards of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and any related rules. Provides that the assessment must include a balanced system of interim and summative assessments that are instructionally relevant, student-centered, and timely delivered and that provide grade-level proficiency scores for accountability purposes, growth metrics, and instructional information purposes. Provides that the State Board, in accordance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, shall support assessments that measure academic grade-level proficiency and academic growth measured against a stable, grade-independent scale. Effective January 1, 2020. Fiscal Note (State Board of Education) House Bill 3303 is estimated to have a first year fiscal impact of approximately $60 million for the development of a reading and mathematics assessment for kindergarten through grade 2 that meets the requirements of the bill. Beginning in the second year. it is estimated that the annual cost to administer the assessments to these grades would range from $49.2-$65.6 million based on 410,000 students taking both the reading and math assessments using $60-$80 per test cost. Illinois State Board of Education also estimates an annual cost of approximately $460,000 for operations to provide 1.5 full-time equivalent staff to oversee these new assessments and other supports such as information technology, graphics. and content specialists for training and technical assistance to school districts. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.