Rep. Thigpen proposes the following amendment (LC-39.HDB0311H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-8-150(C)(1) and inserting:

 (1) Education service providers that provide full-time academic instruction shall: 

   (a) ensure that each scholarship student in grades three through eight takes the SC Ready or SC Ready alternative summative assessment required of students in public schools in this State;

   (b) ensure that each scholarship student in grades four and six takes the SC Pass or SC Pass alternative summative assessment required of students in public schools in this State;

   (c) ensure that each scholarship student in grades nine through twelve takes a nationally norm-referenced or formative assessment approved by the department. Students with disabilities for whom standardized testing is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement; and

   (d) measure academic performance and annual learning gains of its scholarship students by:

    (i) requiring that each scholarship student takes either an approved nationally norm-referenced assessment annually, or an approved formative assessment in the fall and spring, to measure learning gains in math and reading; and

    (ii) collecting high school graduation information of scholarship students for reporting to the department as required in this section.