Another bill in Frankfurt looks to make major changes to the state's assessment and accountability system for K through 12 schools.

The Republican sponsor says students need to be measured for individual growth, but not all members of the majority party agree.

Our Emily Sisk has details on a student assessment measure.

House Bill 257 would make significant changes to the assessment and accountability model for Kentucky's public schools.

Bill sponsor representative JT Payne said one change is that students would be subject to less standardized testing.

We hear a whole lot that, students are subjected to way too much testing in our schools.

The bill would remove the on demand writing component, where students are given a time allotment to write an essay.

It would also remove the school climate survey, which Representative Payne said is too subjective.

In its place would be a measure of chronic absenteeism, which is when a student misses 10% or more of the total school days.

We know that the one of the most reliable indicators of student success, lifelong student success, is attendance.

So I think that a measure of quality for our schools is the measure of attendance.

Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said a key part of the bill is a focus on individual student growth.

Where did you get the child and where did you take the child?

Is an important measure as opposed to the change component that was there.

So instead of comparing this year's third graders to next year, third graders will be looking at the individual student.

Another key part of HB 257 is the ability for schools to create a local accountability system, where the community can give feedback on what's expected of their graduate.

A Senate change to the bill lays out some indicators for this, including the number of teachers who are national board certified, the rigor of academics, and the number of high schoolers who complete the Fafsa.

A Northern Kentucky Republican spoke out against these indicators, however, saying they overcomplicated the legislation.

The bottom line is we are measuring process and not results.

What we need to be measuring is competency, not the process or how good how many certified teachers you have.

I don't care.

I want the results of the kids.

The bill, in its current form, encourages schools to create a local accountability system, but does not require it.

Once a majority of school districts opt in, then it would become a requirement.

House Bill 257 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on an 8 to 4 vote.

It now moves on to the full Senate for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you Emily.

Commissioner Fletcher emphasized the new assessment model will still test students in reading, math, science and social studies.

He says this will allow schools to keep track of student growth from past years.