SB 964 - This act creates the "Advisory Council on Special Education" to be comprised of 12 individuals appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Advisory Council shall develop, and recommend for adoption by the State Board of Education, an alternative assessment for special education students, alternative academic achievement standards for high school students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, and modified assessment and learning standards. The process by which the Advisory Council shall develop the assessments and learning standards is specified in the act. Any significantly delayed student, as defined in the act, in grades 7-12 may take a modified assessment in place of a statewide summative assessment and learn under the modified learning standards developed by the Advisory Council. No school district shall permit more than 5% of the total number of students in the district to take the modified assessment.
The Advisory Council shall dissolve one year after presenting the assessments and standards to the State Board and making any requested modifications.
This act is similar to HB 1365 (2018), HB 2315 (2016), and to provisions contained in SB 534 (2017) and HB 830 (2017).
JAMIE ANDREWS