SENATE BILL 34

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy M. Keller and Mimi Stewart

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; CLARIFYING INDIVIDUAL CHOICE REGARDING STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE NOT FACTORED INTO THE STUDENT'S GRADE POINT AVERAGE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] WAIVER FROM STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENTS, ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TESTS.--Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 22 NMSA 1978:

          A. during a school year in which a student's parent has submitted, electronically or in writing to the principal of a public school or a school leader of a charter school attended by the student, a request for a waiver from taking any standards-based assessment that is not factored into the student's grade point average, the student shall receive a waiver effective for the school year;

          B. the absence of assessment results pursuant to this section shall not affect:

                (1) the student's eligibility to participate in any activity sanctioned by the school or the New Mexico activities association;

                (2) the student's eligibility to graduate from high school;

                (3) promotion and retention decisions regarding the student;

                (4) school personnel decisions or consequences pursuant to the School Personnel Act or department rule; or

                (5) school ratings pursuant to the A-B-C-D-F School Ratings Act or department rule; and

          C. the absence of the student on days when a standards-based assessment that is not factored into the student's grade point average is administered shall not affect the student's attendance record.

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