Current law requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a statewide assessment program to measure and evaluate achievement of learning results. The current assessment program used for students in grades 4, 8 and 11 is the Maine Educational Assessment. The commissioner is permitted to establish an alternative assessment for students in grade 11.

This bill requires the commissioner to submit any alternative assessment program to the Legislature for its approval.

The bill also delays the implementation of the Scholastic Aptitude Test until the 2007 school year.