Relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to mathematics instruction, civics assessments, practitioner preparation programs, and the duties of the director of the department of education

Additionally, the bill requires the director of DE to develop and publish on DE’s internet site a list of valid and reliable mathematics screeners that may be used by teachers to identify students enrolled in kindergarten through grade six who may require additional instruction or support in mathematics. The bill requires school districts to assess all students enrolled in kindergarten through grade six at least three times each school year to determine the students’ level of mathematics proficiency by administering a mathematics screener that is on the list on DE’s internet site. If, as the result of the assessments, a school district determines that a student is persistently at risk in mathematics, the school district is required to take certain specified steps involving additional assessments, the development of personalized mathematics plans, and interventions. The school district is required to take these steps until the student performs at benchmark on the statewide summative assessment in mathematics or until the student performs at benchmark on an assessment, whichever occurs first. The bill defines “persistently at risk” to mean that the student has not met the grade-level benchmark on two consecutive assessments. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer these provisions. The bill provides that the state board of education is required to adopt rules requiring all higher education institutions providing practitioner preparation to include preparation in methods for teaching mathematics. _____ students enrolled in kindergarten through grade to complete mathematics methods coursework and demonstrate competency in certain specified areas. DIVISION II —— CIVICS. The bill requires the director of DE to develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools a test that consists of the multiple choice questions contained in the most recent version of the civics test developed by the United States citizenship and immigration services. The director is also required to update the test every five years and distribute the updated test to schools. The bill requires the board of directors of each local public school district, the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school, charter school, and innovation zone school to administer the test to students enrolled in grades through and ensure that each student receives one passing score on the test as a condition of graduation. Schools are not required to administer the test to a student who has already received a passing score on the test. A student must answer at least percent of the questions on the test correctly to attain a passing score. A student who fails to answer at least percent of the questions on the test correctly may retake the test as many times as is necessary. The bill authorizes schools to modify the test for students who have an individualized education program or a 504 plan, and for students who are English learners, and the bill authorizes schools to administer an alternate test to a student who has a significant intellectual disability. Schools are required to submit the results of the test to DE on or before June each year. The bill provides that individuals seeking a high school equivalency diploma must also pass such a test. DIVISION III —— STATE MANDATE.3.16.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.