PARCC Pull-Out Bill Advances in Arkansas House

BY SHANE VANDER HART

The Arkansas House Education Committee has passed HB 1241 out of committee for consideration by the entire House.  It has also been amended considerably.  It started out as a delay and review bill, not looking at the engrossed version that has been amended it forces the state to exit PARCC by June 30, 2015.

The bill originally would have delayed PARCC until the 2017-2018 school year.  The bill also called for the Governor to convene a task force that includes teachers to review PARCC and other assessments and determine what assessment is best for Arkansas.  They are to report its findings to the Governor of Arkansas by October 1, 2017.