An Act to require administration of the ACT to public school students in grade eleven.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:
Section 1. That 13-3-55 be AMENDED:
13-3-55.
Every
public Each
school district
shall annually administer the same assessment to all students in
grades three to eight, inclusive,
and in grade eleven.
The assessment
shall
must measure
the academic progress of each student.
Every
public Each
school district
shall annually administer to all students in at least two grade
levels
an achievement
a test to
assess writing skills. The Department
of Education shall provide the
assessment instruments shall
be provided by the Department of Education, and the department shall
and
determine the
two grade
levels
to be tested
at which the tests are to be administered.
The assessment
and tests
shall
must be
administered within timelines established by
the Department of Education by in
rules,
promulgated by
the department, pursuant
to chapter 1-26
starting in the spring of the 2002-2003 school year.
Each state-designed test shall
must
be correlated
with the state's content standards.
The South Dakota Board of Education Standards may promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, to provide for the administration of all tests and assessments under this section, and within the timelines established by the department.
Section 2. That chapter 13-3 be amended with a NEW SECTION:
Each public school student, enrolled in grade eleven, shall, in addition to any other assessment or test required by this chapter, take the ACT, including the writing test. Each student's ACT registration fee must be paid by the student's school district. The Department of Education shall, with moneys appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, reimburse each school district for the registration fees.
A school district superintendent may exempt a student from taking the ACT, if doing so is not required by the student's individualized education program plan or if other special circumstances exist.