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SB 246 Louisiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY: Provides with respect to the Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program. (gov sig) (EN -$2,224,183 GF EX See Note)

SB 246 amends Louisiana's education assessment requirements, directly affecting public school students in grades 3-11 and their schools. It mandates annual standards-based tests in English language arts, math, science, and social studies, requiring fourth and eighth graders to demonstrate proficiency in English and math to advance to fifth and ninth grades. The bill sets national benchmarking for proficiency levels and directs the State Board of Education to investigate assessment options by February 2026 to meet federal accountability standards. It also specifies that science and social studies tests must be administered in no more than four grade levels each by 2027-2028, without overlapping grade levels.
Issues: ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual proficiency tests and national benchmarks for K-12, enforcing accountability standards to advance educational quality and student progression.90% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced May 19, 2025 Signed Jul 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB246 Original → SB246 Act · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill shifts the focus of student testing from a general state-based program to specific national proficiency benchmarks in English language arts and mathematics. It mandates that students in grades 4 and 8 must pass these nationally normed tests to advance to the next grade level, introducing a 'gatekeeper' requirement for promotion. The legislation also requires the State Board of Education to investigate and report on available national assessments by February 2026.
Scope change
The scope of the bill changed from a broad accountability framework covering all subjects and grades to a specific mandate for national proficiency testing in English language arts and mathematics for grades 4 and 8 only.
REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that fourth and eighth-grade students must demonstrate proficiency on nationally normed tests in English language arts and mathematics to advance to grades five and nine.

Removed the previous requirement to administer state tests in science and social studies in grades three through eleven, limiting the new mandatory testing focus to English language arts and mathematics.

TIMELINE

Established a deadline of February 6, 2026, for the State Board of Education to submit a report on available national assessments and recommendations for implementation.

DEFINITION

Defined the specific achievement level as 'proficiency' based on national test scores rather than state-determined adequate test scores.

Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2025 · House Jun 8, 2025

How they voted

34–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 37
May 21, 2025
D Democratic11
8 Yea 3
72% Yea
R Republican26
26 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Jun 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 87, nays 5. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (9-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
May 27, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
lower
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Abraham
Mark Abraham
RRepublican
LA
25