Bill > H0159

This bill requires the Florida Department of Education to develop statewide standardized assessments and coordinated screening and progress monitoring system portions in the three most prevalent languages used by English language learners by the 2027-2028 school year. The department must establish criteria for when these assessments and system portions can be used in languages other than English, and parents of English language learner students will have the right to prohibit their children from taking assessments in a language other than English. The bill mandates that the department create a detailed timetable and action plan for developing and implementing these multilingual assessments and system components. Additionally, the bill maintains existing provisions about assessment accommodations for students with disabilities, ensuring that instructional accommodations in classrooms do not automatically qualify for standardized test accommodations, and requiring parental consent and understanding of potential implications when such accommodations are used. The goal of these changes appears to be improving educational accessibility and support for students with limited English proficiency while maintaining the integrity of standardized assessment processes. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing time for educational institutions to prepare for the new multilingual assessment requirements.

Education

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/159