’20-HB1554/SB1565 – Cepicky/Hensley

ON MARCH 9, 2020, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1554, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill. Present law requires that the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program (TCAP) tests administered in the 2019-2020 school year be administered in paper format. Before TCAP tests are administered in the 2020-2021 school year, present law requires each LEA to participate in an online verification test conducted by the department of education.

Present law provides that the commissioner of education will determine, based on the results of the online verification test, the format for TCAP tests administered in the 2020-2021 school year. This amendment revises this provision to instead provide that the commissioner may, based on the results of the online verification test, authorize end-of-course examinations to be administered in a computerized format in the 2020-2021 school year. However, under this amendment, all TCAP tests, other than end-of-course assessments, must be administered in a paper format in the 2020-2021 school year, regardless of the results of the online verification test conducted. This amendment adds that after the online verification test is conducted by the department, but before TCAP tests are administered in the 2021-2022 school year, each LEA must participate in an online verification test conducted by the department. The commissioner may, based on the results of that online verification test authorize all TCAP tests to be administered in a computerized format in the 2021-2022 school year and in subsequent school years.