160.257. Pupil testing for competency in certain subjects--each school district to establish--department of elementary and secondary education, duties, limitations.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

160.257. Pupil testing for competency in certain subjects--each school district to establish--department of elementary and secondary education, duties, limitations.

Pupil testing for competency in certain subjects--each school districtto establish--department of elementary and secondary education,duties, limitations.

160.257. 1. The commissioner of education shall direct thedepartment of elementary and secondary education to insure thatall school districts have a program of pupil testing which shalltest competency in the subject areas of English, reading,language arts, science, mathematics, social studies and civics.

2. The department of elementary and secondary educationshall identify key skills within the subject areas contained insubsection 1 of this section which shall provide the foundationfor the local school district's testing program. The departmentof elementary and secondary education may not set maximal testingstandards.

3. Each local school district shall have a testing program.District testing programs may include minimal promotion standardsand shall give due consideration to the research on the influenceof cultural diversity on testing performance.

4. The testing program of each local school district shallinclude, but shall not be limited to, criterion-referenced testsapproved by the department of elementary and secondary education.This testing program shall test all students at periodic gradelevels. The testing program may test students annually. Thetests shall monitor progress on key skills and shall identifyareas for instructional improvement. The department ofelementary and secondary education may developcriterion-referenced tests and assist districts with theirtesting programs upon the district's request.

5. The department of elementary and secondary educationshall develop or select tests which measure student performanceon minimum key skills, and shall annually administer such teststo a randomly selected, statewide sample of public schoolstudents.

6. Each local school district shall provide testinginformation upon request to the department of elementary andsecondary education.

7. The department of elementary and secondary educationshall annually report to the general assembly composite pupiltesting information.