Summary

SB 559 (Open States or Oklahoma Legislature) establishes alternative methods for high school students to demonstrate mastery of the state academic content standards in subject areas for which alternative tests have been approved and directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules providing for the designation of students as proficient or advanced based on scores obtained on these tests.

Legislative Analysis

Prior to the passage of SB 559, students were required to pass end-of-instruction tests in Algebra I, English II, and two of the following courses: Algebra II, Biology I, English III, Geometry, and United States History, in order to demonstrate their mastery of the state academic content standards for these subject areas and graduate from a public high school with a standard diploma.

SB 559 establishes alternative methods for students to demonstrate mastery of certain subject areas. Students who score 10% above the cut scores approved by the State Board of Education for the American College Testing Program (ACT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), ACT Plan or Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship will have demonstrated mastery in the subject areas for which alternative tests have been approved and will be exempt from taking the end-of-instruction tests in Algebra II, English III, Geometry, or United States History.

Students who score at or above the cut scores approved by the State Board of Education for the Advanced Placement course exams, ACT WorkKeys job skills assessment, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) alternate tests will also be considered to have demonstrated mastery and be exempt from end-of-instruction tests in Algebra II, English III, Geometry, or United States History.

In order for student mastery demonstrated through any of these alternative methods to be included in school grade calculations and teacher and administrator evaluations, SB 559 directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules that designate students as proficient or advanced based upon their scores on the alternative test. Students taking the end-of-instruction tests are also required to attain at least a proficient score in order to demonstrate mastery.

This law increases flexibility for students to demonstrate what they know and may allow them to advance to higher level courses at a faster pace by letting them use alternative assessments that may be given multiple times each year versus waiting to take an end-of-instruction exam.

The legislation promotes digital learning by increasing students’ opportunities to demonstrate mastery of a subject area through alternative tests. Some of these tests may be computer-based and offered at times that are responsive to the students’ needs, allowing for more customized learning and assessment.

 Legislative History

Detailed Vote History: Legiscan |  Open States

Approved by Governor Mary Fallin on 5/31/2013