HB1587
To Require Home Schools That Receive Any Form Of Public Funds To Administer An Annual Student Assessment.
Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1587 amends Arkansas law to establish new requirements for home schools that receive public funding. The bill mandates that any home school receiving public funds must administer an annual, nationally recognized, norm-referenced student assessment to all students between the ages of seven and seventeen. The home school itself is responsible for all costs associated with purchasing, administering, scoring, and reporting these assessments. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is authorized to approve alternative assessment procedures, though the costs for these alternatives remain the responsibility of the home school. Public funds will be withheld from any home school that fails to comply with these testing requirements.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are state policymakers and educational oversight bodies who seek greater accountability and data regarding the academic performance of students receiving public funds through home school programs. Additionally, taxpayers may benefit from the increased transparency regarding the educational outcomes associated with the expenditure of public money on non-traditional schooling models.
Who Might Suffer?
Home school families who receive public funds are the most directly impacted, as they will now face mandatory testing requirements and the financial burden of covering all costs associated with those assessments. This may create a barrier for families with limited financial resources or those who chose home schooling specifically to avoid standardized testing mandates.
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