Requires the department of elementary and secondary education to develop, use, and report student grade-level equivalence data

HB 371 requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to include a new "grade-level equivalence" metric in annual school accountability report cards starting in 2026-27. This metric categorizes each student's performance into five levels (Advanced, Proficient, Grade Level, Basic, Below Basic) based on how close they are to meeting grade-level academic standards. The report cards, which already include data like graduation rates and test scores, will display this new metric school-by-school and district-wide, making it searchable for parents, educators, and the public. The bill mandates that this data be provided alongside regular test scores and published by December 1 each year. It directly affects all public school districts, charter schools, and the state education department.