6230: FLOOR ANALYSIS (10-5-04) - TIMING OF MEAP TEST

TIMING OF MEAP TEST H.B. 6230 & 6231: FLOOR ANALYSIS

House Bills 6230 and 6231 (as discharged)
Sponsor: Representative Brian Palmer
House Committee: Education
Senate Committee: Education

CONTENT
House Bills 6230 and 6231 would amend the State School Aid Act and the Revised School Code, respectively, to require the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test to administered to pupils during the last 90 school days of grade 11. Currently, schools must administer the test during the last 30 schools of grade 11.

House Bill 6230 also would change references from the Department of Treasury to the Department of Education. (Executive Order No. 2003-20 transferred responsibilities for the MEAP from the Treasury Department to the Department of Education.)

House Bill 6231 would transfer the following responsibilities from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Department of Education:

-- Developing or selecting and approving assessment instruments to measure pupil performance in communication skills, math, social studies, and science.
-- Establishing three categories for each subject area indicating basic competency, above average, and outstanding, and establishing the scaled score range required for each category.

Also, under the Revised School Code, an assessment administration advisory committee must report to the Superintendent and the Department on issues related to administration, scoring, and reporting, and the use of test results. Under the bill, committee would report only to the Department.

In addition, the Code requires the Department of Treasury and any other State agency to give a school advance notice of suspected irregularities in MEAP administration or preparation, before reporting to anyone not involved in scoring or administering the test. The bill would extend this requirement to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

MCL 388.1704a (H.B. 6230) Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe 380.1279 & 380.1279d (H.B. 6231)

FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed: 10-5-04 Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco

floor\hb6230 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb6230&6231/0304