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Bill

HB 614

STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Requires students to attain a minimum ACT score set by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as a prerequisite to high school graduation and prohibits state-administered end-of-course assessments for high school students (OR -$4,300,000 GF EX See Note)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tehmi Chassion

Requires minimum ACT score for high school graduation while eliminating state end-of-course assessments, reducing state spending by $4.3 million.

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
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Bill Summary · HB 614

Legislative bill overview

HB 614 would require Louisiana high school students to achieve a minimum ACT score set by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in order to graduate, while simultaneously eliminating state-administered end-of-course assessments for high school students. The bill also carries a fiscal note indicating a reduction of $4.3 million in general fund expenditures.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects high school graduation requirements and fundamentally changes how the state measures student achievement and school accountability. The dual approach—adding a standardized test requirement while removing other state assessments—represents a significant policy shift in educational evaluation methods that could impact college and workforce readiness pathways.

Potential points of contention

  • Graduation equity concerns: Minimum ACT score requirements may disproportionately affect low-income students, students with disabilities, and English language learners who have less access to test preparation resources, potentially widening achievement gaps
  • Accountability trade-offs: Eliminating end-of-course assessments removes granular data on student performance in specific subjects and school-level effectiveness, making it harder to identify and address educational deficiencies in particular content areas
  • ACT cost burden: Requiring all students to take the ACT imposes testing costs that may fall on families or schools, conflicting with the stated budget reduction and raising questions about access equity

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

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