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S.B. 59 Enrolled

             1     

SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser

             5     
House Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill establishes a school grading system based on the performance of a school's
             10      students on statewide assessments, and for high schools, the graduation rate and
             11      measures that indicate college and career readiness.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    requires the State Board of Education to establish a school grading system in which
             16      a school receives a grade of A, B, C, D, or F based on the performance of the
             17      school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high school, the graduation
             18      rate and measures that indicate college and career readiness;
             19          .    specifies the criteria upon which a school grade is based and procedures for
             20      determining a school's grade;
             21          .    imposes requirements for the reporting of a school's grade; and
             22          .    directs the State Board of Education to:
             23              .    make rules, as necessary, to implement the school grading system; and
             24              .    make reports and recommendations for proposed legislation to the Education
             25      Interim Committee.
             26      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             27          None
             28      Other Special Clauses:
             29          None


             30      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             31      AMENDS:
             32          63A-3-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 310
             33      ENACTS:
             34          53A-1-1101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          53A-1-1102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          53A-1-1103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          53A-1-1104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          53A-1-1105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39          53A-1-1106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40          53A-1-1107, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41          53A-1-1108, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42          53A-1-1109, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43          53A-1-1110, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             44          53A-1-1111, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          53A-1-1112, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46          53A-1-1113, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             47     
             48      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             49          Section 1. Section 53A-1-1101 is enacted to read:
             50     
Part 11. School Grading Act

             51          53A-1-1101. Title.
             52          This part is known as the "School Grading Act."
             53          Section 2. Section 53A-1-1102 is enacted to read:
             54          53A-1-1102. Definitions.
             55          As used in this part:
             56          (1) "High school" means a school that includes grade 12.
             57          (2) "Statewide assessment" means any of the following assessments that are


             58      administered statewide under Part 6, Achievement Tests:
             59          (a) a criterion-referenced test of student achievement in language arts, mathematics, or
             60      science, including a test administered in a computer adaptive format; or
             61          (b) an online writing assessment.
             62          Section 3. Section 53A-1-1103 is enacted to read:
             63          53A-1-1103. State Board of Education to establish school grading system --
             64      Report to Education Interim Committee.
             65          (1) The State Board of Education shall establish a school grading system in accordance
             66      with this part in which a school annually is designated a grade of A, B, C, D, or F based on the
             67      performance of the school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high school, the
             68      graduation rate and measures that indicate college and career readiness.
             69          (2) The State Board of Education shall:
             70          (a) model the school grading system described in this part using school performance
             71      data for the 2010-11 school year;
             72          (b) make periodic reports to the Education Interim Committee on the results of the
             73      modeling and suggested modifications to the school grading system; and
             74          (c) make recommendations for proposed legislation to the Education Interim
             75      Committee on modifications to the school grading system by the committee's November
             76      meeting.
             77          (3) The school grading system shall take effect for the 2011-12 school year and shall
             78      replace the U-PASS accountability system developed and implemented by the State Board of
             79      Education.
             80          Section 4. Section 53A-1-1104 is enacted to read:
             81          53A-1-1104. Schools included in grading system.
             82          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a school that has students who take statewide
             83      assessments shall receive a school grade.
             84          (2) A school may not receive a school grade, if the number of a school's students tested
             85      is less than the minimum sample size necessary, based on accepted professional practice for


             86      statistical reliability or the prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable student
             87      data under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232.
             88          Section 5. Section 53A-1-1105 is enacted to read:
             89          53A-1-1105. Criteria for determining school grades.
             90          A school's grade shall be based on:
             91          (1) the proficiency of a school's students in language arts, mathematics, science, and
             92      writing as measured by statewide assessments;
             93          (2) learning gains of a school's students on statewide assessments of language arts,
             94      mathematics, and science achievement; and
             95          (3) for a high school:
             96          (a) the graduation rate; and
             97          (b) measures indicating college and career readiness.
             98          Section 6. Section 53A-1-1106 is enacted to read:
             99          53A-1-1106. Calculation of points earned for students' proficiency in language
             100      arts, mathematics, science, and writing.
             101          (1) A school shall receive points for the proficiency of a school's students in language
             102      arts, mathematics, science, and writing as follows:
             103          (a) A school shall receive one point for each percent of the school's students who take a
             104      statewide assessment of language arts achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
             105          (b) A school shall receive one point for each percent of the school's students who take
             106      a statewide assessment of mathematics achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
             107          (c) A school shall receive one point for each percent of the school's students who take a
             108      statewide assessment of science achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
             109          (d) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percent of the school's students who take
             110      a statewide assessment of writing achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
             111          (2) (a) A school may earn a maximum of 100 points for each of the criteria listed in
             112      Subsections (1)(a), (b), and (c).
             113          (b) A school may earn a maximum of 50 points for the criteria listed in Subsection


             114      (1)(d).
             115          Section 7. Section 53A-1-1107 is enacted to read:
             116          53A-1-1107. Calculation of points earned for students' learning gains in language
             117      arts, mathematics, and science.
             118          (1) Subject to Subsection (2), a school shall receive points, as determined by the State
             119      Board of Education, for students who take a statewide assessment of language arts,
             120      mathematics, or science achievement in two successive years and:
             121          (a) maintain a proficient level or higher from one school year to the next; or
             122          (b) improve their achievement level from one school year to the next.
             123          (2) Points assigned for students who score below the proficient level in the prior school
             124      year and improve their achievement level or score at the proficient level or higher in the current
             125      year shall be double the number of points assigned for students who maintain a proficient level
             126      from one school year to the next.
             127          (3) A school may earn a maximum of 350 points for the criteria described in
             128      Subsection (1).
             129          Section 8. Section 53A-1-1108 is enacted to read:
             130          53A-1-1108. Calculation of additional points earned for high school graduation
             131      and college and career readiness.
             132          (1) In addition to the points described in Sections 53A-1-1106 and 53A-1-1107 and
             133      subject to Subsection (2), a high school shall receive points, as determined by the State Board
             134      of Education, for:
             135          (a) the percent of students who graduate from high school; and
             136          (b) indicators of college and career readiness.
             137          (2) In calculating the percent of students who graduate, the State Board of Education
             138      shall use the same graduation rate for a high school that is used to determine whether the high
             139      school makes Adequate Yearly Progress under the federal No Child Left Behind accountability
             140      system.
             141          (3) A school may earn a maximum of 200 points for the criteria described in


             142      Subsection (1) with two-thirds of the maximum number of points allotted to high school
             143      graduation and one-third allotted to indicators of college and career readiness.
             144          Section 9. Section 53A-1-1109 is enacted to read:
             145          53A-1-1109. Calculation of percent of maximum points earned.
             146          (1) The percent of the maximum number of points a school that is not a high school
             147      may earn shall be calculated by:
             148          (a) dividing the sum of the points earned for the criteria listed in Sections 53A-1-1106
             149      and 53A-1-1107 by the maximum number of points that a school may earn as provided in
             150      Sections 53A-1-1106 and 53A-1-1107; and
             151          (b) multiplying the quotient calculated under Subsection (1)(a) by 100.
             152          (2) The percent of the maximum number of points a high school may earn shall be
             153      calculated by:
             154          (a) dividing the sum of the points earned for the criteria listed in Sections 53A-1-1106 ,
             155      53A-1-1107 , and 53A-1-1108 by the maximum number of points that a school may earn as
             156      provided in Sections 53A-1-1106 , 53A-1-1107 , and 53A-1-1108 ; and
             157          (b) multiplying the quotient calculated under Subsection (2)(a) by 100.
             158          Section 10. Section 53A-1-1110 is enacted to read:
             159          53A-1-1110. Letter grade based on percent of maximum points earned.
             160          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a school shall receive a letter grade based on
             161      the percent of the maximum number of points the school may earn as calculated under Section
             162      53A-1-1109 as follows:
             163          (a) A, 100% - 90%;
             164          (b) B, 89% - 80%;
             165          (c) C, 79% - 70%;
             166          (d) D, 69% - 50%; and
             167          (e) F, 49% or less.
             168          (2) If student participation in a statewide assessment is fewer than 95%, the school
             169      shall receive an F.


             170          Section 11. Section 53A-1-1111 is enacted to read:
             171          53A-1-1111. Students with disabilities.
             172          (1) In implementing the school grading system, the State Board of Education shall
             173      provide for the inclusion of the test scores of a student with a disability.
             174          (2) Test scores on an alternative assessment administered to a student with a disability
             175      may substitute for a statewide assessment as defined in Section 53A-1-1102 .
             176          Section 12. Section 53A-1-1112 is enacted to read:
             177          53A-1-1112. Reporting.
             178          (1) For the 2011-12 school year and thereafter, the State Board of Education, in
             179      collaboration with school districts and charter schools, shall annually develop a school report
             180      card to be delivered to parents of students in public schools.
             181          (2) The report card shall include:
             182          (a) the school's grade;
             183          (b) the percent of the maximum number of points that may be earned; and
             184          (c) information indicating the school's performance on the various criteria upon which
             185      the grade is based.
             186          (3) On or before August 15, the State Board of Education shall annually publish, on the
             187      State Board of Education's website, a report card for each school with the information required
             188      in Subsection (2).
             189          (4) On or before August 15, a school district shall annually publish on the school
             190      district's website, and a school's website, a school report card with the grade for the prior
             191      school year, together with the current school improvement plan established in accordance with
             192      Section 53A-1a-108.5 .
             193          (5) On or before August 15, a charter school shall annually publish on the charter
             194      school's website a school report card with the grade for the prior school year.
             195          Section 13. Section 53A-1-1113 is enacted to read:
             196          53A-1-1113. Rules.
             197          The State Board of Education shall make rules, as necessary, to implement a school


             198      grading system in accordance with this part.
             199          Section 14. Section 63A-3-402 is amended to read:
             200           63A-3-402. Utah Public Finance Website -- Establishment and administration --
             201      Records disclosure.
             202          (1) There is created the Utah Public Finance Website to be administered by the
             203      Division of Finance with the technical assistance of the Department of Technology Services.
             204          (2) The Utah Public Finance Website shall:
             205          (a) permit Utah taxpayers to:
             206          (i) view, understand, and track the use of taxpayer dollars by making public financial
             207      information available on the Internet for participating state entities' and participating local
             208      entities, using the Utah Public Finance Website; and
             209          (ii) link to websites administered by participating local entities that do not use the Utah
             210      Public Finance Website for the purpose of providing participating local entities' public
             211      financial information as required by this part and by rule under Section 63A-3-404 ;
             212          (b) allow a person who has Internet access to use the website without paying a fee;
             213          (c) allow the public to search public financial information on the Utah Public Finance
             214      Website using those criteria established by the board;
             215          (d) provide access to financial reports, financial audits, budgets, or other financial
             216      documents that are used to allocate, appropriate, spend, and account for the government funds,
             217      as may be established by rule under Section 63A-3-404 ;
             218          (e) have a unique and simplified website address;
             219          (f) be directly accessible via a link from the main page of the official state website;
             220      [and]
             221          (g) include other links, features, or functionality that will assist the public in obtaining
             222      and reviewing public financial information, as may be established by rule under Section
             223      63A-3-404 [.]; and
             224          (h) include a link to school report cards published on the State Board of Education's
             225      website pursuant to Section 53A-1-1112 .


             226          (3) The division shall:
             227          (a) establish and maintain the website, including the provision of equipment, resources,
             228      and personnel as is necessary;
             229          (b) maintain an archive of all information posted to the website;
             230          (c) coordinate and process the receipt and posting of public financial information from
             231      participating state entities;
             232          (d) coordinate and regulate the posting of public financial information by participating
             233      local entities; and
             234          (e) provide staff support for the advisory committee.
             235          (4) (a) A participating state entity shall permit the public to view the participating
             236      entity's public financial information via the website, beginning with information that is
             237      generated not later than the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008, except that public financial
             238      information for an institution of higher education shall be provided beginning with information
             239      generated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009.
             240          (b) Not later than May 15, 2009, the website shall:
             241          (i) be operational; and
             242          (ii) permit public access to participating state entities' public financial information,
             243      except as provided in Subsection (4)(c).
             244          (c) An institution of higher education that is a participating state entity shall submit the
             245      entity's public financial information at a time allowing for inclusion on the website no later
             246      than May 15, 2010.
             247          (5) A person who negligently discloses a record that is classified as private, protected,
             248      or controlled by Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, is
             249      not criminally or civilly liable for an improper disclosure of the record if the record is disclosed
             250      solely as a result of the preparation or publication of the Utah Public Finance Website.


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