Summary
Minnesota HF 630 (Open States or Minnesota Legislature) is the omnibus K-12 Education Policy and Finance Bill. It adds ways to demonstrate proficiency to fulfill graduation requirements, sets forth guidelines for adopting computer-adaptive testing in grades 3-7, and makes changes to the Online and Digital Learning Council.
Legislative Analysis
HF 630 contains numerous provisions regarding education policy in the state, including changes to graduation requirements, assessments, and the Online and Digital Learning Advisory Council.
It allows students who have not demonstrated proficiency on the MCAs, the GRAD tests, or the basic skills tests before high school graduation to satisfy state high school graduation requirements in reading, math, and writing by taking the reading, math, or writing GRAD test, the WorkKeys job skills assessment, the Compass computer-adaptive college placement test, a nationally recognized armed services vocational aptitude test, or the ACT assessment for college admission. The state is directed to pay the test costs for public school students to participate in these assessments.
The legislation directs the education commissioner to make computer-adaptive reading and math assessments for students in grades 3 through 7 a part of Minnesota’s comprehensive assessment system by the 2015-16 school year. The assessments must align with empirically derived benchmarks geared toward career and college readiness.
These assessment results, along with grade 8 and high school test results must be available to districts for diagnostic purposes and must be disseminated to the public. The state education commissioner is also to ensure that:
- individual student performance data and achievement and summary reports are available within three school days;
- individual student growth data is available from the student’s first test to each proximate assessment using a constant measurement scale;
- parents and educators are able to use elementary and middle school student performance data to project student secondary and postsecondary achievement; and
- useful diagnostic information about areas of students’ academic strengths and weaknesses is available to improve student instruction.
The Online and Digital Learning Advisory Council increases from 12 to 14 members. The legislation sets forth the positions that should comprise the Council. They are tasked with bringing digital learning matters to the attention of the education commissioner and the legislature and providing input and policy recommendations on digital learning matters. The council’s expiration date is postponed until June 30, 2016.
HBF 630 promotes digital learning by offering students online options for demonstrating proficiency in order to earn a high school diploma. It also moves to online assessments for reading and math in grades 3-7. This may elicit more varied and adaptive test items, quicker test results, and an improved ability to observe growth over time and use assessment to inform instruction. The law also clarifies and extends the work of the Online and Digital Learning Advisory Council.
Legislative History
Detailed Vote History: Legiscan | Open States
Approved by Governor Rick Scott on 4/22/2013