S257 - 2026 Appropriations Act. (SL 2026-41)
Session Year 2024
Overview: Section 8A.7 of S.L. 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257) requires the State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) to pay the cost of nationally standardized tests in grades 3, 8, and 11 that are required for Personal Education Student Account (PESA) recipients who attend a nonpublic school that qualifies for direct disbursement of PESA funds.
Additionally, parents of students who receive a PESA due to any of the following disabilities can opt out of the nationally standardized tests in grades 3 through 12 that are required for PESA recipients who attend a nonpublic school that qualifies for the direct disbursement of PESA funds:
- Autism.
- Hearing impairment.
- Moderate or severe intellectual disability.
- Orthopedic impairment.
- Visual impairment.
SEAA is not required to pay the cost of any standardized tests for which a parent has opted the PESA recipient out.
This section became effective July 1, 2026.
Additional Information: