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TO PROHIBIT ANY CHANGES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION ACADEMIC STANDARDS, ASSESSMENTS, CUT SCORES, AND RATINGS CURRENTLY USED IN THIS STATE UNTIL JULY 1, 2026, AT WHICH TIME THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL EXAMINE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS BASED ON THE STANDARDS APPLICABLE FROM JULY 1, 2021, TO JUNE 30, 2026, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT ANY APPROPRIATE CHANGES TO THESE ACADEMIC STANDARDS, ASSESSMENTS, CUT SCORES, AND RATINGS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF ITS EXAMINATION.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly finds the establishment of public education academic standards, assessments, cut scores, and ratings applicable to kindergarten through twelfth grade are necessary to evaluate and improve public education in this State; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly finds frequent changes in the specific academic standards, assessments, cut scores, and ratings used greatly diminish their effectiveness in providing a meaningful understanding of the extent to which underlying efforts to improve student success are achieving the desired results, and that such frequent changes should be temporarily prohibited for a five-year period. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Changes to the public education academic standards, assessments, cut scores, and ratings currently used in this State are prohibited until July 1, 2026, at which time the Department of Education shall examine the achievement of students from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2026, based on the academic standards, assessments, cut scores, and ratings in use during that time. The department shall provide a report recommending any changes to academic standards, assessments, cut scores, and ratings that it considers appropriate based on the findings of its examination to the General Assembly before November 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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