SOL assessments & related student assessment methods; assessment development, etc., reform.

Document header changed from 'OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 2/10/2025' to 'SENATE SUBSTITUTE' with updated date of February 13, 2025

Bill numbering and formatting changed from 'HOUSE BILL NO. 1957' to include Senate substitute designation and bill number 25107047D

Text layout and spacing was reorganized with different line breaks and formatting throughout the document

Some sections appear duplicated or rearranged in the Senate version, particularly around assessment administration requirements and local alternative assessment provisions

Effective date provisions remain the same (July 1, 2026 for most provisions, 2026-2027 school year for guidelines)

Changed the proposing committee from House Committee on Education to Senate Committee on Education and Health, indicating the bill moved to Senate consideration.

Updated formatting and line numbering to reflect Senate substitute markup conventions rather than House substitute formatting.

Added page headers and draft markings typical of Senate substitute documents.

Added a sunset provision requiring reauthorization of certain assessment requirements by the 2026 General Assembly session

Established new requirements for mandatory local alternative assessments including scoring rubrics, audit procedures, and quality standards

Created requirements for web-based computerized assessments and computer-adaptive testing capabilities

Added provisions for secure assessment scoring processes to protect test security and data integrity

Added definitions distinguishing between mandatory and permissive local alternative assessments

Updated formatting and organizational structure of the bill text with new section numbering and layout

Modified provisions regarding student assessment participation and exemptions for students with disabilities

Assessments for grades 3-8 will use a through-year growth system with beginning, mid, and end-of-year tests instead of just end-of-year tests, with total testing time limited to 150% of a single end-of-year test.

Local school boards must now distinguish between mandatory local alternative assessments (required when state tests aren't available) and permissive local alternative assessments (optional alternatives to state tests).

New audit requirements for local alternative assessments to ensure quality and consistency across school divisions, with specific consequences for failed audits of permissive assessments.

Assessments must include open-ended questions and long-form writing to test critical thinking skills, and multiple-choice questions must vary across assessments to prevent memorization of specific test items.

Schools must provide individualized student score reports within 45 days of assessment windows closing, including performance comparisons with school, division, and state averages.

Certain provisions related to new assessment requirements are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with some provisions requiring reenactment in the 2026 session to become effective.

New definitions for various assessment types including 'mandatory local alternative assessment,' 'permissive local alternative assessment,' and 'performance assessment' to clarify what each means.

Enhanced test security provisions with new civil remedies and administrative actions available for breaches in test security or unauthorized alteration of test materials.

Sections K and L of § 22.1-253.13:3, which establish requirements for mandatory and permissive local alternative assessments, are now delayed until the 2026 General Assembly session reenacts them, rather than taking effect immediately on July 1, 2026 like the rest of the bill.

Formatting corrections were made to the title page, including changing 'RECONVENED SESSION' to 'RECONVENED SESSION' and 'REENROLLED' to 'REENROLLED', and adjusting line spacing and numbering for the reenrolled version.

A bill identifier 'HB1957ER2' was added to the reenrolled version to indicate this is the second reenrollment of the bill.

Replaced one-time end-of-year assessments with a through-year growth assessment system for reading and mathematics in grades 3-8, requiring at least beginning, mid, and end-of-year assessments totaling no more than 150% of a single end-of-year test's time.

Established new requirements for local alternative assessments, distinguishing between mandatory assessments (required when no state test is available) and permissive assessments (optional replacements for state tests not needed for federal accountability).

Added requirements that all assessments be scored on a 100-point scale using statewide rubrics and that assessments include open-ended questions and long-form writing to measure critical thinking skills.

Added provisions requiring school boards to provide targeted mathematics remediation for students in grades 6-8 who show computational deficiencies on diagnostic tests.

Set a 2030-2031 school year deadline for full implementation of new assessment requirements, including standardized scoring rubrics and individualized student score reports.

Created new definitions for 'mandatory local alternative assessment' and 'permissive local alternative assessment' to clarify when local schools must or may use their own tests instead of state assessments.

Established annual audit requirements for local alternative assessments to ensure quality and consistency across school divisions, with escalating penalties for repeated audit failures.