Relates to truth in testing for the common core

14 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Phil Boyle
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Simcha Felder
• Rich Funke
• Betty Little
• Kathleen A. Marchione
• Jack M. Martins
• Terrence P. Murphy
• Robert Ortt
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Patty Ritchie
• Susan Serino
• James L. Seward

BILL NUMBER:S2697

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to truth in testing for the common core

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that new common core mandated state assessments are fair, unbiased, grade level appropriate and administered properly.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new article 7-B.

-Section 349-a of the bill provides the definitions to be used in this act.

-Section 349-b directs the commissioner to submit by July 1, 2016 a report to the executive and legislative branches regarding common core administered state tests, the appropriateness of the tests, the correlation between test scores and GPA, a statistical analysis of student performance, the effectiveness of the vendor used to administer the state tests, and whether that vendor should continue to be used, if another vendor should be used, or if New York should adopt the partnership for assessment readiness for college and careers (PARCC).

-Section 349-c directs the commissioner to have an independent audit of the common core program conducted. The audit shall commence no later than September 1, 2016 and the commissioner shall be required to deliver the results of the audit to the executive and legislative branches no later than December 15, 2016.

Section 2: Section 2 directs that this act shall take effect immediately, provided that any rules or regulations necessary for implementation of this act shall be promulgated and take effect 180 days after its enactment.

Justification

In 2010, the Board of Regents agreed that New York would be one of over forty states to adopt the Common Core state learning standards. In the 2012-2013 school year, New York began phasing in Common Core based-assessments that are tied to the new standards. While the Common Core standards are supported by a wide variety of educational groups, including the New York State Educational Conference Board, there has nevertheless been considerable debate as to the effectiveness and appropriateness of the new assessments that are tied to the standards. This legislation seeks to ensure that the new assessments being rolled out are fair, unbiased, grade level appropriate, and administered properly.

Legislative history

2013: S. 6009 - Rules

2014: S. 6009 - Rules

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, provided that any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act shall be promulgated and take effect 180 days after its enactment.