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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 3, ACADEMIC PROGRESS TEST, TO CHAPTER 30, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTER-ADMINISTERED TESTING PROGRAM WITH AN ADAPTIVE COMPONENT IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT TO MEASURE ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND PROVIDE DATA FOR INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT; BY DESIGNATING SECTIONS 59-30-10 THROUGH 59-30-110 AS ARTICLE 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-1595, RELATING TO REALLOCATION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING AND THE PALMETTO ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE TEST, AND SECTION 59-28-200, RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS AND THE PALMETTO ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE TEST, SO AS TO CONFORM BOTH SECTIONS TO THE ACADEMIC PROGRESS TEST.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Sections 59-30-10 through 59-30-110 of the 1976 Code are designated Article 1, General Provisions.
SECTION 2. Chapter 30, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-30- 310. (A) The basic skills assessment program for students in third through eighth grade in a public school in this State must be a computer-administered testing program with an adaptive component to measure academic progress (academic progress test) and provide data for instructional improvement.
(B) The academic progress test must be given to each student in third through eighth grade by the 2006-07 school year.
(C) The academic progress test must include at least two annual tests:
(1) a diagnostic test for individual students at the beginning of each school year; and
(2) an achievement test that provides comparable diagnostic information for accountability purposes at the end of each school year.
(D) The academic progress test must meet at least the academic standards established pursuant to Article 1 of this chapter.
(E) The scoring scale of the academic progress test must be continuous from grade level to grade level so that a student's progress may be tracked from one grade level to the next.
(F) The academic progress testing materials must provide a school with clear descriptions of the academic standards that are measured each year and samples of released test items that measure every subset of skills within each subject area.
(G) The components of the academic progress test must be administered on a schedule that permits delivery of final accountability test scores at least three weeks before the beginning of the next school year so that schools and school districts can use the information to plan.
Section 59-30-320. A school district that does not have the resources to implement the computer-administered test may apply to the State Department of Education for a waiver and, if approved, may administer a paper version of the academic progress test that has been approved by the department.
Section 59-30-330. (A) Results of the academic progress test must be included on each school's report card.
(B) A teacher may access the test results by individual student, grade level, or group of students for the purpose of instructional planning.
(C) A student who participates in the academic progress test and his parent or guardian must be provided the individual student assessment results and the opportunity for explanation and interpretation of those results by professional staff at the school.
Section 59-30-340. The board shall promulgate regulations to carry out the purpose of this article to include, but not be limited to, subjects and standards of testing.
Section 59-30-350. In the first year of funding, the difference between the budgeted funds and the actual cost of administering the academic progress test must be distributed to the districts that file for a waiver pursuant to Section 59-30-320. These funds must be used by the districts to prepare for compliance with the computer-administered portion of the academic progress test."
SECTION 3. Section 59-18-1595 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-18-1595. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in order to provide assistance at the beginning of the school year, schools may qualify for technical assistance based on the criteria established by the Education Oversight Committee for school ratings and on the most recently available PACT academic progress test scores. In order to best meet the needs of low-performing schools, the funding provided for technical assistance under the Education Accountability Act may be reallocated among the programs and purposes specified in this section. The State Department of Education shall establish criteria for reviewing and assisting schools that will be rated unsatisfactory using a tiered system with the lowest-performing schools receiving highest priority. Not to exceed the statewide total number of specialists stipulated by the Education Accountability Act, the highest priority school assistance shall include a year-long technical assistance team that may include a lead principal or curriculum specialist, or both. All specialists shall have a demonstrated record of success in their field and shall be entitled to the incentives and benefits of a teacher specialist. Technical assistance for below average schools shall be provided to the extent possible in order of need. The State Department of Education shall provide information on the technical assistance strategies and their impact to the State Board of Education, the Education Oversight Committee, the Senate Education Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, the House of Representatives Education and Public Works Committee, and the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee annually."
SECTION 4. Section 59-28-200(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(1) an explanation of the grade-level academic content standards and advice on how parents can help their children achieve the standards and the relationship of the standards to the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT) academic progress tests; and"
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:18 P.M.