Two education related bills crossed the Capitol halls last week.
Senate Bill 24, which revises certain provisions relating to state assessments, passed the Senate Education committee on 7-0 vote and then, an amended version, passed the full Senate on 34-0 vote.
The bill removes the requirement that state assessments be given to students in the 11th grade, instead requiring the assessments in English language arts, mathematics and science be given to high school students upon their completion of courses most related to the assessment subjects.
S.D. Department of Education Interim Secretary Ben Jones told Senate Education committee members the change provides a “better assessment to fit those new graduation requirements” and provides “greater flexibility for the state.”
Senators amended SB 24 on the floor, removing references to administrative rule promulgation from the Department of Education and requiring any adjustment to the assessment process be approved by the legislature in the future.
ASBSD is monitoring the bill.
Senate Ed. committee members and the full Senate each unanimously approved Senate Bill 23, which revises references to repealed or obsolete provisions related to DOE.
DOE Legal Counsel Brett Arenz noted the bill “removes obsolete references” in state statue, specifically those to tuition payment of transfer of special education students, which Arenz said “no tuition is paying paid” because “the receiving non-resident district is responsible for these costs.”
ASBSD is monitoring the bill.
SB 23 and SB 24 now head to the House for review and action.
For updates on these bills and other legislation, check the ASBSD Blog, Twitter feed, Facebook page and Bill Tracker.