Amend the committee amendment, as and if amended, by striking SECTION 3 and inserting:
/ SECTION 3. Chapter 152, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-152-33. (A)(1) The State Superintendent of Education shall ensure that every student entering publicly funded prekindergarten and kindergarten beginning in School Year 2014-2015 will be administered a readiness assessment by the forty-fifth day of the school year. For School Years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 the readiness assessment shall focus on early language and literacy development. Beginning in School Year 2016-2017, the State Superintendent of Education shall ensure that every student entering publicly funded prekindergarten and kindergarten will be administered a readiness assessment by the forty-fifth day of the school year that must evaluate each child's readiness across the following domains: early language and literacy development, numeracy skills, physical well-being, and social and emotional development. The readiness assessment may include multiple readiness assessments, all of which must be approved by the State Board of Education. The approved readiness assessment must be aligned with kindergarten and first grade standards for English/language arts and mathematics. The purpose of the readiness assessment is to provide teachers and parents or guardians with information to address the readiness needs of each student, especially by identifying language, cognitive, social, emotional, and health needs that allow for appropriate instruction for each child and referral for appropriate services. The results of the readiness assessment and the developmental intervention strategies recommended or services needed to address the child's identified needs must be provided, in writing, to the parent or guardian. The readiness assessment may not be used to deny a student admission or to progress to kindergarten or first grade.
(2)(a) For the test to be administered in School Year 2014-2015, the Education Oversight Committee shall recommend the characteristics of the readiness assessment for children in prekindergarten and kindergarten, focused on early language and literacy development, to the State Board of Education immediately upon the effective date of this act. Prior to submitting the recommendation to the State Board of Education, the Education Oversight Committee shall seek input from the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees and other early childhood advocates. The State Board of Education must move expeditiously to approve or modify the criteria submitted by the committee. Once approved, with the assistance of the Education Oversight Committee, the State Board of Education shall develop a solicitation to be used in procuring the readiness assessment. The solicitation must be forwarded to the Executive Director of the Budget and Control Board who must immediately move to procure the readiness assessment in order to meet the forty-five day requirement in item (1). The Executive Director is authorized to make changes to the solicitation with the consent of the Chairman of the State Board of Education and the Chairman of the Education Oversight Committee. The State Department of Education must bear the costs of the procurement.
(b) For the tests to be administered beginning in School Year 2016-2017, before July 1, 2015, the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee shall recommend characteristics of a readiness assessment to evaluate and measure the school readiness of students prior to their entrance into a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten program per the goals pursuant to Section 59-152-30 to the State Board of Education and pursuant to item (1). Prior to submitting the recommendation to the State Board of Education, the Education Oversight Committee shall seek input from the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees and other early childhood advocates. In making its recommendation, the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee shall consider readiness assessments that are research-based, reliable, and appropriate for measuring readiness. Upon receiving the recommendation of the Education Oversight Committee, the State Board of Education shall review the recommendation and make changes where it deems appropriate.
(B) The results of individual students in a school readiness assessment may not be publicly reported.
(C) Following adoption of a school readiness assessment, the State Board of Education shall adopt a system for reporting population-level results that provides baseline data for measuring overall change and improvement in the skills and knowledge of students over time. The Department of Education shall house and monitor the system.
(D) The South Carolina First Steps of School Readiness Board of Trustees shall support the implementation of the school readiness assessment and must provide professional development to support the readiness assessment for teachers and parents of programs supported with First Steps funds. The board shall use the annual aggregate literacy and other readiness assessment information in establishing standards and practices to support all early childhood providers served by First Steps." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.