The bill, HB 762, proposes significant changes to the assessment requirements for high school students in Louisiana, particularly those pursuing career diplomas. It removes the mandate for these students to take the ACT, allowing them instead to take the WorkKeys test or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Additionally, students pursuing other types of diplomas will also have the option to take the WorkKeys test and ASVAB under certain conditions. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is tasked with developing a system of equivalent scores for these assessments to ensure accountability for schools and districts.

The bill also includes provisions for implementation starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It amends existing law to require BESE to create a scoring system that incorporates the highest scores from the ACT, WorkKeys, and ASVAB for accountability purposes. The amendments adopted by the conference committee reject previous Senate amendments that would have allowed all students to take any of the three tests, instead focusing on specific requirements for students based on the type of diploma they are pursuing.

Statutes affected:
HB762 Original: 17:3(B)(3)
HB762 Reengrossed: 17:3(B)(3)
HB762 Enrolled: 17:3(B)(3)
HB762 Act 635: 17:3(B)(3)