Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

LAW WITHOUT
                                                                GOVERNOR'S               CHAPTER
                                                                SIGNATURE
                                                                                              462
                                                                JULY 15, 2021           PUBLIC LAW
                                 STATE OF MAINE
                                          _____
                          IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                        TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
                                          _____
                                  H.P. 193 - L.D. 277
          An Act To Discontinue the Use of the SAT in Maine Schools
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
    Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6202, first ¶, as amended by PL 2015, c. 40, §4, is further
amended to read:
     The commissioner shall establish a statewide assessment program to measure and
evaluate on a continuing basis the academic achievements of students in grades 3 to 12 on
the accountability standards set forth in section 6209 and in department rules implementing
that section and other curricular requirements. The commissioner may elect to provide for
the use of alternative measures of student achievement in grades 9 to 12. This assessment
applies to students in the public elementary and secondary schools, in public charter
schools, as that term is defined in section 2401, subsection 9, and in all private schools
approved for tuition whose school enrollments include at least 60% publicly funded
students, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average
enrollment. The assessment program must be adapted to meet the needs of children with
disabilities as defined in section 7001, subsection 1‑A or other students as defined under
rules by the commissioner. The assessment program may not include the use of the
standardized test known as "the SAT" as a method for assessing student performance.
    Sec. 2. Alternate method to the SAT. By January 1, 2022, the Department of
Education shall develop an alternate method of assessing student performance to replace
the use of the standardized assessment test known as "the SAT." The alternate method
must meet all federal requirements. By February 1, 2022, the department shall report to
the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs regarding the alternate
method.
                                   Page 1 - 130LR0290(03)
Statutes affected: 
Bill Text LD 277, HP 193: 20-A.6202
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 462: 20-A.6202