Standardized Testing Overburdens Pupils (STOP) Act

A BILL TO ENACT THE "STANDARDIZED TESTING OVERBURDENS PUPILS (STOP) ACT" BY PROVIDING THAT BEGINNING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020, NO STATE FUNDS MAY BE PROVIDED, UTILIZED, OR APPROPRIATED FOR ANY EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, EXCEPT FOR SPECIFIED ASSESSMENTS, TO ESTABLISH A NEW STATE GOAL OF MOVING THE AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BY THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR 2027, TO REQUIRE THE USE OF THE ADDITIONAL MONETARY SAVINGS REALIZED BY THE ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN MANDATED EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING TEACHER SALARIES AND FOR A ONE-TIME BONUS IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY THIS ACT, AND TO ALSO PROVIDE THAT ANY INCREASES IN REVENUE DERIVED FROM THE SALES AND USE TAXES IMPOSED UNDER THE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT, BEGINNING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019, MUST BE USED FOR THE SIMILAR PURPOSE OF INCREASING TEACHER SALARIES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, TO REMOVE THE SOCIAL STUDIES TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND TO DELETE THE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-320, RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ASSESSMENT TESTING, TO REMOVE THE SOCIAL STUDIES TESTING REQUIREMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-325, RELATING TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ASSESSMENTS, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CAREER READINESS ASSESSMENTS ARE ADMINISTERED, TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT WHOSE PARENT OR GUARDIAN COMPLETES A FORM DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT MAY OPT THE STUDENT OUT OF EITHER THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT OR CAREER READINESS ASSESSMENT, TO REQUIRE SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO MEET MINIMAL FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND INCLUDE SCIENCE, TO REQUIRE A STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENT IN SCIENCE BE ADMINISTERED IN GRADES FOUR AND SEVEN, AND TO REMOVE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS, THE CHANGES TO THE IDENTIFIED CODE SECTIONS ABOVE DONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFORMING THEM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-10-50 RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENTS.