SB 266 is a legislative proposal aimed at updating the statewide education improvement and assessment program, as well as the school performance and accountability program. The bill introduces a new definition for "N-size," setting the minimum at 11 to balance student group visibility with privacy. It revises assessment goals to include a variety of objectively scored tasks and mandates statewide assessments in mathematics, English and language arts, and science at specified grade levels. The bill allows for alternative assessments approved by the U.S. Department of Education and includes provisions for student participation, ensuring that assessment results are not included in transcripts without consent and that there are no penalties for low participation rates.

The bill also specifies that the Department of Education must provide the testing entity with necessary student information for reporting purposes and allows for the sharing of assessment results with parents, guardians, or schools. It changes the schedule for the destruction of student data to be determined by the state contract with the testing entity, rather than after 8 years, and includes new protections against the disclosure of student data. Additionally, the bill revises the criteria for identifying schools needing comprehensive or targeted support and improvement, as well as the requirements for statewide performance targets. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 189:10-a, 77-G:2, 77-G:5, 91-A:5, 189:28, 189:65, 189:67, 193:3, 198:40-a, 21-N:4, 189:68, 193-E:5, 186-C:3-a
As Amended by the House: 193-C:2, 193-C:3, 193-C:6, 193-C:11, 193-C:12, 193-H:1, 193-H:2
Version adopted by both bodies: 193-C:2, 193-C:3, 193-C:6, 193-C:11, 193-C:12, 193-H:1, 193-H:2