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S.B. 97

             1     

GRANTS FOR ONLINE TESTING

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Aaron Osmond

             5     
House Sponsor: Bill Wright

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill provides for grants to school districts and charter schools to implement online
             10      testing systems.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides for grants to school districts and charter schools to implement a uniform
             14      online summative test system, an online adaptive test system, or both; and
             15          .    requires a grant recipient to:
             16              .    implement, by the 2014-15 school year, an online adaptive test system that
             17      meets technology standards established by the State Board of Education and is
             18      aligned with the common core; and
             19              .    provide matching funds to implement a uniform online summative test system,
             20      an online adaptive test system, or both in an amount that is greater than or equal
             21      to the grant received.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          This bill appropriates:
             24          .    to the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative
             25      Programs, as an ongoing appropriation for fiscal year 2012-13:
             26              .    $5,000,000 from the Education Fund; and
             27          .    to the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative


             28      Programs, as a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2012-13:
             29              .    $15,000,000 from the Education Fund.
             30      Other Special Clauses:
             31          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.
             32      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             33      AMENDS:
             34          53A-1-708, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 342 and 359
             35     
             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 53A-1-708 is amended to read:
             38           53A-1-708. Grants for online delivery of U-PASS tests.
             39          (1) As used in this section:
             40          (a) "Adaptive tests" means tests administered during the school year using an online
             41      adaptive test system.
             42          (b) "Common core" means a core set of English language arts and mathematics
             43      standards developed by states and adopted by the State Board of Education that define the
             44      knowledge and skills students should have in kindergarten through grade 12 to enable them to
             45      be prepared for college or workforce training.
             46          [(a)] (c) "Summative tests" means tests administered near the end of a course to assess
             47      overall achievement of course goals.
             48          [(b)] (d) "Uniform online summative test system" means a single system for the online
             49      delivery of summative tests required under U-PASS that:
             50          (i) is coordinated by the Utah State Office of Education;
             51          (ii) ensures the reliability and security of U-PASS tests; and
             52          (iii) is selected through collaboration between Utah State Office of Education and
             53      school district representatives with expertise in technology, assessment, and administration.
             54          [(c)] (e) "U-PASS" means the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students.
             55          (2) The State Board of Education may award grants to school districts and charter
             56      schools to implement one or both of the following:
             57          (a) a uniform online summative test system to enable parents of students and school
             58      staff to review U-PASS test scores by the end of the school year[.]; or


             59          (b) an online adaptive test system to enable parents of students and school staff to
             60      measure and monitor a student's academic progress during a school year.
             61          (3) (a) Grant money may be used to pay for any of the following, provided it is directly
             62      related to implementing a uniform online summative test system, an online adaptive test
             63      system, or both:
             64          (i) computer equipment and peripherals, including electronic data capture devices
             65      designed for electronic test administration and scoring;
             66          (ii) software;
             67          (iii) networking equipment;
             68          (iv) upgrades of existing equipment or software;
             69          (v) upgrades of existing physical plant facilities;
             70          (vi) personnel to provide technical support or coordination and management; and
             71          (vii) teacher professional development.
             72          (b) Equipment purchased in compliance with Subsection (3)(a), when not in use for the
             73      online delivery of summative tests or adaptive tests required under U-PASS may be used for
             74      other purposes.
             75          [(4) The State Board of Education may award grants only to school districts and charter
             76      schools that intend to implement a uniform online summative test system.]
             77          [(5)] (4) The State Board of Education shall make rules:
             78          (a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding grants;
             79          (b) specifying how grant money shall be allocated among school districts and charter
             80      schools [that qualify to receive grants under Subsection (4); and];
             81          (c) requiring reporting of grant money expenditures and evidence showing that the
             82      grant money has been used to implement a uniform online summative test system[.], an online
             83      adaptive test system, or both;
             84          (d) establishing technology standards for an online adaptive testing system;
             85          (e) requiring a school district or charter school that receives a grant under this section
             86      to implement an online adaptive test system by the 2014-15 school year that:
             87          (i) meets the technology standards established under Subsection (4)(d); and
             88          (ii) is aligned with the common core; and
             89          (f) requiring a school district or charter school to provide matching funds to implement


             90      a uniform online summative test system, an online adaptive test system, or both in an amount
             91      that is greater than or equal to the amount of a grant received under this section.
             92          [(6)] (5) If a school district or charter school uses grant money for purposes other than
             93      those stated in Subsection (3), the school district or charter school is liable for reimbursing the
             94      State Board of Education in the amount of the grant money improperly used.
             95          Section 2. Appropriation.
             96          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
             97      following sums of money are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated out of the
             98      funds or accounts indicated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30,
             99      2013. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2012-13.
             100      To the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative Programs
             101          From Education Fund
$5,000,000

             102          From Education Fund, One-time
$15,000,000

             103          Schedule of Programs:
             104              Contracts and Grants                    $20,000,000
             105          The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education allocate the $20,000,000
             106      appropriated for Contracts and Grants to award grants to school districts and charter schools to
             107      implement a uniform online summative test system, an online adaptive test system, or both
             108      pursuant to Section 53A-1-708 .
             109          Section 3. Effective date.
             110          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-7-11 10:04 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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