Representative Keith Brooks, R‑District 78, presented HB 15‑98 to the House Education Committee and explained that the state is transitioning to a new assessment, the Arkansas Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (ATLAS). The committee adopted an amendment clarifying language, then passed the bill as amended on a voice vote.

Brooks said the Department of Education and districts have baseline data from the new ATLAS test but argued it would be confusing to publish school grades in April during a transition to a new assessment and cut scores. He described the proposal as a standard “hold harmless” year used by other states when they change assessments.

Nut graf: The bill would permit the state to withhold publication of official school grades for one year while the state completes standard setting and finalizes accountability formulas tied to the ATLAS assessment; districts would retain access to student data and be able to use the results locally.

Jacob Levy of the Department of Education told the committee the ATLAS assessment provides initial baseline scores and that the department seeks a year to finish standard setting and ensure accurate public reporting. Brooks added that the bill includes an appeal process allowing a school to challenge a lowered grade to confirm data accuracy during the transition.

Committee members asked whether schools would still have access to data (the answer was yes) and whether previously issued grades would be frozen for the pause period; witnesses said districts would retain their internal data and that the pause was about public reporting to avoid confusion. No one signed up to speak for or against the bill.

The committee adopted a clarifying amendment and then approved HB 15‑98 as amended on a voice vote. The sponsor said the field has received the proposal well and that the department recommended the approach.

Ending: The bill moves to the next stage of House consideration; sponsors and department officials said the pause is intended to protect the accuracy of public school grades while Arkansas completes a major accountability transition.