NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/20/2015. SENATE BILL 15-056 BY SENATOR(S) Kerr, Todd, Johnston, Crowder, Merrifield, Roberts; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Kraft-Tharp, Arndt, Becker K., Conti, Danielson, Duran, Garnett, Hamner, Lee, Lontine, Melton, Pettersen, Rosenthal, Ryden, Tate, Williams, Winter, Young, Hullinghorst. Concerning reducing the frequency of administering the statewide assessment in social studies, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-409, amend (1) (k) as follows: 22-7-409. Assessments - repeal. (1) Beginning in the spring semester of 1997, the department shall implement the Colorado student assessment program under which the department shall administer statewide assessments adopted by the board pursuant to section 22-7-406 in the first priority areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science. The department shall administer the English versions of the state assessments and may administer any assessments adopted by the board in languages other than English, as may be appropriate for English language learners; except that any student who has participated in the English language proficiency program, created pursuant to section 22-24-104, for more than a total of three school years shall be ineligible to take the assessments in a language other than English. The statewide assessments shall be administered as follows: (k) Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, and each school year in school years thereafter, the department shall administer a standards-based statewide assessment in social studies to students enrolled in public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the state. In specific grades to be determined by The department shall select the specific grades in which it administers the social studies assessment shall be administered to ensure that it administers the assessment to students enrolled in the selected grades once in elementary school, once in middle school, and once in high school. Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the department may administer the social studies assessment in a representative sample of public schools each school year so long as the department administers the social studies assessment in each public school at least once every three years. If the department chooses to administer the social studies assessment in a representative sample of public schools, a school district, for one or more of the schools of the school district that are not included in the representative sample, or a charter school that is not included in the representative sample, may request that the department administer the assessment in the district school or charter school. The department shall administer the social studies assessment in the requested school in the school year following the school year in which it receives the request. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1006.3, amend as added by House Bill 15-1323 (1) (a) introductory portion; and add (1) (a) (III) as follows: 22-7-1006.3. State assessments - administration - rules. (1) (a) Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the department of education, in collaboration with local education providers, shall administer the state assessments in the instructional areas of English language arts, mathematics, and science, and social studies, as adopted by the state board pursuant to section 22-7-1006, as follows: (III) The department shall administer a state assessment in social studies to students enrolled in public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the state. The department shall select the specific grades in which to administer the state social studies assessment, ensuring that students take the state social studies assessment once in elementary school, once in middle school, and once in high school; except that the department shall not administer the state social studies assessment to students enrolled in twelfth grade. The department shall administer the social studies assessment in a representative sample of public schools each school year, ensuring that it administers the social studies assessment in each public school at least once every three years. A school district, for one or more of the schools of the school district that are not included in the representative sample, or a charter school that is not included in the representative sample, may request that the department administer the assessment in the district school or charter school. The department shall administer the social studies assessment in the requested school in the school year following the school year in which it receives the request. SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1006.3, amend as added by Senate Bill 15-257 (1) (a) introductory portion; and add (1) (a) (III) as follows: 22-7-1006.3. State assessments - administration - rules. (1) (a) Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, the department of education, in collaboration with local education providers, shall administer the state assessments in the instructional areas of English language arts, mathematics, and science, and social studies, as adopted by the state board pursuant to section 22-7-1006, as follows: (III) The department shall administer a state assessment in social studies to students enrolled in public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the state. The department shall select the specific grades in which to administer the state social studies assessment, ensuring that students take the state social studies assessment once in elementary school, once in middle school, and once in high school; except that the department shall not administer the state social studies assessment to students enrolled in twelfth grade. The department shall administer the social studies assessment in a representative sample of public schools each school year, ensuring that it administers the social studies assessment in each public school at least once every three years. A school district, for one or more of the schools of the school district that are not included in the representative sample, or a charter school that is not included in the representative sample, may request that the department administer the assessment in the district school or charter school. The department shall administer the social studies assessment in the requested school in the school year following the school year in which it receives the request. SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2015-16 state fiscal year, $935,180 is appropriated to the department of education. This appropriation is from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) (a) of article IX of the state constitution. To implement this act, the department may use this appropriation for the Colorado student assessment program. SECTION 5. Effective date. (1) This act takes effect upon passage; except that: (a) Section 1 of this act takes effect only if House Bill 15-1323 and Senate Bill 15-257 do not become law; (b) Section 2 of this act takes effect only if House Bill 15-1323 becomes law, in which case section 2 of this act takes effect on the effective date of this act or the effective date of House Bill 15-1323, whichever is later; (c) Section 3 of this act takes effect only if Senate Bill 15-257 becomes law, in which case section 3 of this act take effect on the effective date of this act or the effective date of Senate Bill 15-257, whichever is later; and (d) Section 4 of this act takes effect only if section 2 or 3 of this act takes effect, in which case section 4 of this act takes effect on the effective date of section 2 or 3 of this act. SECTION 6. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. ____________________________ ____________________________ Bill L. Cadman Dickey Lee Hullinghorst PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Cindi L. Markwell Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ John W. Hickenlooper GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO