SB 18-011

Senate Bill 18-011, which has been signed into law, allows parents to excuse their children from taking state assessments by notifying the school. The bill clarifies that schools must not punish or discriminate against students who are excused from these tests in any way, such as denying them participation in activities or rewards. This means that if a parent wants their child to skip a state assessment, they can do so without worrying about negative consequences for their child at school.

Official Summary

Under current law, each school district, board of cooperative services that operates a school, and charter school (local education provider) must adopt a written policy and procedure by which a parent may excuse his or her student from participating in the state assessments. The bill clarifies that the local education provider determines whether notice from the parent must be in writing. Under current law, a local education provider shall not punish a student whose parent excuses him or her from taking a state assessment. The bill clarifies that a local education provider also shall not prohibit the student from participating in an activity or receiving any other form of reward that recognizes participation in the state assessments. . If the department of education or the state board of education receives a parent complaint concerning a local education provider's implementation of the statute concerning students excused from taking assessments, the department must notify the local education provider of the nature of the complaint. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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