Students with disabilities.

Provides that the department of education (department) must submit any guidance or recommendation to a school corporation or school that attempts to affect in any manner based on statewide assessment accommodations which instructional methods are included or excluded from the student's special education plan or program to the state board of education (state board) for approval. Provides that the department shall, to the extent permitted under federal law, provide the same text-to-speech, screen reader, or human reader and calculator accommodations to a student in grades 6 through 12 on every section of the statewide assessment program if that accommodation is provided as part of the student's special education plan or program. Provides that the state board, in consultation with The Arc of Indiana and the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE), shall consult with one or more individuals who specialize in special education as part of the state board's oversight of the development and implementation of the Indiana's Learning Evaluation Assessment Readiness Network (ILEARN) program. Provides that a student's score on the statewide assessment may not be the primary factor or measure used to determine whether a student is eligible for a particular course or program. Establishes the Indiana standards and assessment accommodation task force to review: (1) the accommodations provided for by Indiana's statewide assessment to determine if appropriate accommodations are available to accurately measure a student's learning; and (2) the possibility of separating the academic standard of reading comprehension into a separate reading academic standard and a comprehension academic standard. Provides that the department, in consultation with The Arc of Indiana and ICASE, shall develop a notice for parents of certain students with disabilities that informs a parent that the student is not allowed to use certain accommodations on all or part of the statewide assessment. Provides that, not later than February 1, 2021, and not later than February 1, 2022, each public school, including each charter school, and each accredited nonpublic school shall do the following: (1) Provide the notice to the parent during the annual review of the student's special education plan or program. (2) If the parent does not attend the annual review, provide the notice to the parent by certified mail or personal delivery. (3) Discuss and determine, at the annual review of the student's special education plan or program in which a parent of the student participates, whether the student may be eligible to opt out of any applicable section of the statewide assessment. Provides that at least one member of the state board shall be a practicing licensed special education teacher or special education director at the time the member is appointed.