HB 206-HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSM'T/POSTSECONDARY CLASS  10:06:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 206, "An Act establishing a career assessment requirement in public schools; and relating to postsecondary courses for secondary school students." 10:06:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON made a motion to adopt Committee Substitute (CS) for HB 206, 26-LS0765\C. There being no objection, Version C was before the committee. 10:07:10 AM CHAIR SEATON drew attention to the document in the committee packet titled "Questions from (H)EDC from 3/19/2010 Regarding Workkeys and the HSGQE." He pointed out that the response to question 2 from the Department of Education and Early Development (EED) was that the grade 11 requirement for the WorkKeys assessment is that it is to be included on the cumulative file, but not shown on the transcript or diploma. Thus the directive in the bill should remain. 10:07:53 AM CHAIR SEATON then referred to page 1, line 6, and offered Amendment 1 which would change grade 12 to grade 11. 10:08:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER objected for the purpose of discussion. 10:08:33 AM CHAIR SEATON said this is in response to the State Board of Education & Early Development (state board) comments that indicated grade 12 was too late. Furthermore, regulations allow for students to retake the exam in grade 12, and if their scores improve, there is no cost. 10:09:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH added that moving the assessment to grade 11 will allow students time to take corrective measures during the summer prior to graduation. 10:09:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER explained her objection with the following description of the two requirements: administration of the test in grade 11 is in order to improve scores; administration of the test in grade 12 is to demonstrate the student's final level of skills. She said her preference was to require a student to take the test in grade 12, knowing that a student may take the test in grade 11, if desired. 10:10:37 AM CHAIR SEATON cautioned that the department would not pay for the test twice. 10:11:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON recalled that a student can take the test as many times as he/she likes, but the state will pay to have it certified just once. 10:12:17 AM CHAIR SEATON clarified that the Worldwide Interactive Network Inc., (WIN) test can be taken multiple times at no cost; however, the WorkKeys assessment includes certification and will be provided once. 10:12:52 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER concluded that if the intent of the test is to replace the HSGQE, in the terms of informing employers and postsecondary educators the level of skills a student has achieved, then it needs to be administered in grade 12. 10:13:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she would like to have further discussion, as the committee's action may be influenced by the Moore v. State legal decision. She also requested legal advice from outside counsel on whether the HSGQE is unconstitutional. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said he would also appreciate more time to study the bill. He expressed his understanding that removing the HSGQE will be perceived as "taking away the bar" for the education system, in spite of the failure of the HSGQE to serve its purpose. 10:16:10 AM CHAIR SEATON withdrew Amendment 1, and said HB 206, Version C, was held for further consideration of its two elements, the WorkKeys assessment, and the removal of the "high stakes" aspect of the HSGQE. [HB 206 was held over.]