Capitol Notebook: House Approves PARCC Test Repeal

House members overwhelmingly approved a bill to end the state’s participation in a national Common Core test on Friday.

The House voted 86-1 to approve House Bill 1241.

Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, who sponsored the bill, said it was needed to help students, teachers and parents throughout the state.

If signed into law, the bill would end the state’s participation in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a Common Core test, by June 30, 2015.

Lowery said the testing was touted as a measuring stick for schools to help students, with 26 states originally signing up for the program. However, that number has swindled to nine states in recent years, Lowery said.

According to the bill, the Arkansas Department of Education would not be stopped from completing work on the test this year. Also, the bill would bar the state board of education and the Department of Education from providing access to student data to the federal Department of Education, any federal assistance organization or auditors without first getting written permission from the parent or legal guardian of the child.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

MONDAY SCHEDULE
The following committee and caucus meetings are scheduled for Monday in the Arkansas General Assembly:

Joint Committees
10:00 a.m. – JBC-Peer Review, Room A, MAC.
10:30 a.m. – Arkansas Legislative Council-Executive Subcommittee, Room 205.
Caucus Meetings
11:00 a.m. – Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, Room 149.

House Committees
30 minutes after adjournment – State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, Room 151.
Senate Committees
Upon adjournment – Judiciary Committee, Room 171.

The House and Senate will convene at 1:30 p.m. Monday.