00 SENATE BILL NO. 200                                                                                                     
01 "An Act establishing performance standards for elementary and secondary students,                                       
02 requiring a comprehensive system of assessment, and requiring a high school                                             
03 graduation examination."                                                                                                
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1.  AS 14.07.020(a) is amended by adding new paragraphs to read:                                           
06   (16)  establish by regulation state performance standards in reading,                                                
07 writing, and mathematics at levels to be determined by the department;                                                  
08   (17)  require by regulation that each district                                                                       
09   (A)  develop a comprehensive system of student academic                                                             
10 assessment, including use of the statewide assessment system at the educational                                         
11 levels set by the department;                                                                                           
12   (B)  provide adequate and timely information to parents and                                                         
13 students about student progress toward meeting state performance standards in                                           
14 reading, writing, and mathematics as established by the department; and                                                 
01   (C)  develop a program of remediation, including an intervention                                                    
02 plan, for students not attaining the minimum state performance standards;                                               
03   (18)  require by regulation that each district conduct developmental                                                 
04 screening in educational areas for all elementary students in a manner to be determined                                 
05 by the department.                                                                                                      
06    * Sec. 2.  AS 14.07 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                      
07  Sec. 14.07.032.  High school graduation exam.   (a) After January 1, 2003,                                            
08 in addition to meeting the graduation requirements of a district and in order to obtain                                 
09 a high school diploma, a secondary pupil must pass a state graduation examination in                                    
10 the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.  The department shall determine the                                     
11 form and content of the examination and shall score completed examinations.                                             
12  (b)  Notwithstanding having met all other requirements for graduation required                                        
13 by the district, a secondary pupil who fails to pass the examination required under this                                
14 section shall receive a certificate of attendance from the district indicating the years                                
15 of attendance and that the pupil has not passed a required state graduation examination                                 
16 or received a diploma.  A secondary pupil who fails the examination required under                                      
17 this section may be reexamined.  A district may not be offer a reexamination more                                       
18 often than annually.  A person no longer attending public school may take the                                           
19 examination required by this section through the state-operated correspondence                                          
20 program or through adult basic education service providers identified by the                                            
21 department.  A person who passes the reexamination and who meets the other                                              
22 graduation requirements of the district last attended shall receive a diploma from that                                 
23 district upon notification by the department to the district that the pupil has satisfied                               
24 the examination requirement.