(a) Notwithstanding AS 14.03.078, 14.03.120, 14.03.123, 14.03.300, 14.03.310, AS 14.07.020, 14.07.030, 14.07.165, or a provision of federal law to the contrary, and except as provided in (d) of this section, the department may not require a school district or school to administer a statewide standards-based assessment after July 1, 2016, and before July 1, 2018. The department and the board shall create a plan for working with school districts to develop or select statewide assessments that are approved by school districts. The plan must provide for the first administration of the assessments not later than the school year that begins in 2020.

(b) The department shall review state education laws and regulations to identify unnecessary laws or regulations and areas where the laws or regulations may be changed to provide school districts with greater control over public education policy in light of the enactment of P.L. 114-95 (Every Student Succeeds Act).

(c) On or before January 1, 2018, the department shall submit a report to the senate secretary and chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available. The report must describe

(1) the final plan for developing or selecting statewide assessments as required under (a) of this section; and

(2) recommendations for changes in laws or regulations as required under (b) of this section.

(d) The department shall require a school district or school to administer a statewide standards-based assessment after July 1, 2016, and before July 1, 2018, if the United States Department of Education provides notice that the United States Department of Education intends to withhold all or a portion of the state's federal education funding as a result of the department's compliance with (a) - (c) of this section.

(e) In this section, “school district” has the meaning given in AS 14.30.350.