Standardized Testing and Reporting Program: academic achievement: assessment instrument.

Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with approval of the State Board of Education, to develop an Academic Performance Index (API) , as part of the Public School Performance Accountability Program, to measure the performance of schools, especially the academic performance of pupils. The Leroy Greene California Assessment of Academic Achievement Act requires the Superintendent to design and implement a statewide pupil assessment program, known as the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop and adopt primary language assessments that are aligned to the state academic content standards, as specified. This bill would authorize the department, subject to the approval of the state board, to make available to school districts and charter schools a primary language assessment, as specified, that allows school districts and charter schools to assess pupils who are enrolled in a dual language immersion program, as specified, and who are either nonlimited English proficient or redesignated fluent English proficient. The bill would require that a school district or charter school that chooses to administer the primary language assessment do so at its own expense, and enter into an agreement, subject to the approval of the department, with the state testing contractor, as specified.