Louisiana Leap testing will now take 20% less time to complete the state assessments. That’s the message that Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley delivered to members of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). The changes will affect students in grades 3-8 statewide in assessments of English language arts (ELA) and math skills. The changes are intended to eliminate redundancies and streamline the writing portion of the annual Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) tests.
Dr. Brumley says the revisions “were made in consultation with testing experts to maintain the integrity of these vital assessments and mark the first action in a long-term commitment for future reductions.” Dr. Brumley says he heard constantly from parents, teachers, and students about this issue.
A statement posted on the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) website known as Louisiana Believes states that the revisions will be in place for LEAP testing in April 2025:
· Students will take approximately 40 to 75 minutes less in ELA, depending on the grade.
(*This is a result of reducing from two writing prompts in each grade to one.)
· Students will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes less in math, depending on the grade.
(*This is a result of eliminating four machine-scored tasks and two constructed-response tasks.)
LEAP tests are required by federal law to track student progress and allow parents and the public to see how much schools are helping students grow. Student test scores also factor heavily into teacher evaluations and school ratings.
