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SF 4156

Allow districts that provide digital instruction to administer state assessments remotely

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julia Coleman and 1 co-sponsor

Allows school districts offering digital instruction to administer state assessments remotely, raising concerns about test security, equity, and standardization comparability.

Author added Coleman
#educationandeducationdepartment #education-pre-kindergarten-12
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Bill Summary · SF 4156

Legislative bill overview

SF 4156 permits school districts that offer digital or remote instruction to administer state-mandated assessments to students remotely rather than requiring in-person testing. The bill aligns testing delivery methods with instructional delivery modalities, allowing flexibility for districts with established distance learning programs.

Why is this important

Remote assessment administration could reduce logistical barriers for digitally-native students and districts while potentially lowering costs associated with proctoring and test administration facilities. However, this touches on fundamental questions about assessment integrity, standardization, and equity—core concerns for state accountability systems that rely on comparable data across all students and districts.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment validity and security: Remote testing introduces concerns about test security, cheating prevention, and whether results remain comparable to in-person administered assessments used for state accountability rankings
  • Digital divide and equity: Students with unreliable internet, inadequate devices, or unsupervised home environments may face disadvantages in remote testing, potentially widening achievement gaps
  • Standardization and comparability: State assessments require consistent administration conditions; remote variants could create data integrity issues that complicate trend analysis and inter-district comparisons used for school accountability decisions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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