Bill > A00548

This bill establishes a comprehensive accountability system for educational assessments in New York by creating a Regents Review Board to rigorously evaluate standardized tests used for high school graduation, grade promotion, and measuring school performance. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to submit an annual report by September 15th that demonstrates the validity, reliability, alignment with learning standards, and appropriateness of each assessment, using professional guidelines from educational research associations (AERA, APA, and NCME). The newly formed five-member Regents Review Board, composed of experts in testing and curriculum evaluation, will independently audit these assessments and their pilot tests, with the authority to declare any part of an assessment invalid if it does not meet professional standards. If an assessment or part of an assessment is deemed invalid, the results cannot be used for student promotion or graduation decisions, and alternative measures like final course grades and faculty recommendations will be used instead. The bill also mandates that the Commissioner of Education submit detailed pilot and field test results to the board at least 60 days before test administration, and the board can recommend that the State Board of Regents prevent the use of an assessment that fails to meet professional standards. The overall goal is to ensure that educational assessments are scientifically sound, fair, and truly measure student learning and achievement.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A548