A bill for an act relating to the administration of the statewide summative assessment of student progress to students of online schools by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HF 190 regulates online assessments for students, requiring real-time monitoring and a 10:1 proctor ratio to ensure fair and reliable evaluations in online education.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 190.

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Purpose and Intent

HSB 33, now known as HF 190, is a proposed legislative bill aimed at regulating the administration of statewide summative assessments for students enrolled in online schools. The bill seeks to ensure that assessments are conducted in a manner that aligns with the instructional methods used in online education, thereby maintaining the integrity and reliability of student evaluations.

Key Provisions

The bill outlines specific conditions under which school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools can administer state summative assessments in an online format. The key provisions include:

Assessment Timing: Students must take assessments at designated dates and times set by school personnel.

Synchronous Assessment Sessions: Assessments must be conducted in real-time, managed by designated school personnel.

Monitoring: An assessment proctor must monitor students throughout the assessment via a video feed.

Student-to-Proctor Ratio: The ratio of students taking the assessment to assessment proctors must not exceed 10 to 1.

Verification of Submission: An assessment administrator is responsible for verifying that students submit their assessments correctly.

These provisions aim to create a controlled environment for assessments that mirrors the students' regular online learning experiences.

Affected Parties

The bill impacts:
- School Districts: Public school systems that provide online education.
- Accredited Nonpublic Schools: Private educational institutions that meet specific accreditation standards.
- Charter Schools: Publicly funded independent schools that operate with greater flexibility than traditional public schools.
- Students: Particularly those enrolled in online learning programs who will be subject to these assessment regulations.

Procedural Aspects

Introduced: January 15, 2025

Committee Actions:

The bill was reviewed and approved by a committee on January 30, 2025, and subsequently renumbered as HF 190.
A subcommittee recommended its passage on January 28, 2025.
The committee voted 22 in favor, 0 against, with 1 excused on the same day.

Implementation: The state board of education is required to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this bill, as stipulated in Code section 256.7(21)(b)(2).

Conclusion

HSB 33 (HF 190) represents a significant step toward standardizing the assessment process for online education, ensuring that it is conducted fairly and effectively. By establishing clear guidelines for assessment administration, the bill aims to enhance the educational experience for students in online learning environments.

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