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S.B. 175

             1     

ASSESSMENT OF COLLEGE READINESS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson

             5     
House Sponsor: Steve Eliason

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions regarding the assessment of high school students' college
             10      readiness.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    terminates the administration of a basic skills competency test to tenth grade
             14      students;
             15          .    requires school districts and charter schools to administer college readiness
             16      assessments adopted by the State Board of Education, which shall include the
             17      college admissions test that includes an assessment of language arts, mathematics,
             18      and science that is most commonly submitted to local universities;
             19          .    requires the State Board of Education to contract with a provider, through a request
             20      for proposals process, to provide an online program to prepare students to take the
             21      college admissions test that includes an assessment of language arts, mathematics,
             22      and science that is most commonly submitted to local universities;
             23          .    eliminates the Basic Skills Education Stipend Program; and
             24          .    makes technical amendments.
             25      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             26          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2014:
             27          .    to the State Board of Education, as an ongoing appropriation:


             28              .    from the Education Fund, $850,000.
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          This bill provides an effective date.
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          53A-1-602, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 394
             34          53A-1-603, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapters 394 and 407
             35          53A-1-604, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 11
             36          53A-1-609, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 336
             37          53A-1-611, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 394
             38          53A-3-602.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 321
             39      ENACTS:
             40          53A-1-613, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41      REPEALS:
             42          53A-1-612, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 342
             43     
             44      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             45          Section 1. Section 53A-1-602 is amended to read:
             46           53A-1-602. Definitions.
             47          As used in this part:
             48          (1) "Basic skills course" means a subject which requires mastery of specific functions,
             49      as defined under rules made by the State Board of Education, to include reading, language arts,
             50      mathematics, science in grades 4 through 12, and effectiveness of written expression.
             51          (2) "Utah's common core" means the core set of English language arts and mathematics
             52      standards developed and adopted by the State Board of Education which define the knowledge
             53      and skills students should have in kindergarten through grade 12 to enable them to be prepared
             54      for college or workforce training.
             55          (3) "Utah Performance Assessment System for Students" or "U-PASS" means:
             56          (a) as determined by the State Board of Education, criterion-referenced achievement
             57      testing or online computer adaptive testing of students in grades 3 through 12 in basic skills
             58      courses;


             59          (b) an online writing assessment in grades 5 and 8;
             60          (c) [a tenth grade basic skills competency test] college readiness assessments as
             61      detailed in Section 53A-1-611 ;
             62          (d) the use of student behavior indicators in assessing student performance; and
             63          (e) testing of students in grade 3 to measure reading grade level.
             64          Section 2. Section 53A-1-603 is amended to read:
             65           53A-1-603. Duties of State Board of Education.
             66          (1) The State Board of Education shall:
             67          (a) require each school district and charter school to implement the Utah Performance
             68      Assessment System for Students, hereafter referred to as U-PASS;
             69          (b) require the state superintendent of public instruction to submit and recommend
             70      criterion-referenced achievement tests or online computer adaptive tests, [a tenth grade basic
             71      skills competency test] college readiness assessments, an online writing assessment for grades
             72      5 and 8, and a test for students in grade 3 to measure reading grade level to the board for
             73      approval and adoption and distribution to each school district and charter school by the state
             74      superintendent;
             75          (c) develop an assessment method to uniformly measure statewide performance, school
             76      district performance, and school performance of students in grades 3 through 12 in mastering
             77      basic skills courses; and
             78          (d) provide for the state to participate in the National Assessment of Educational
             79      Progress state-by-state comparison testing program.
             80          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3) and Subsection 53A-1-611 [(5)](3), under
             81      U-PASS, the State Board of Education shall annually require each school district and charter
             82      school, as applicable, to administer:
             83          (a) as determined by the State Board of Education, statewide criterion-referenced tests
             84      or online computer adaptive tests in grades 3 through 12 and courses in basic skill areas of the
             85      core curriculum;
             86          (b) an online writing assessment to all students in grades 5 and 8;
             87          (c) [a tenth grade basic skills competency test] college readiness assessments as
             88      detailed in Section 53A-1-611 ; and
             89          (d) a test to all students in grade 3 to measure reading grade level.


             90          (3) Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, the State Board of Education shall
             91      annually require each school district and charter school, as applicable, to administer a computer
             92      adaptive assessment system that is:
             93          (a) adopted by the State Board of Education; and
             94          (b) aligned to Utah's common core.
             95          (4) The board shall adopt rules for the conduct and administration of U-PASS to
             96      include the following:
             97          (a) the computation of student performance based on information that is disaggregated
             98      with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, limited English proficiency, and those students who
             99      qualify for free or reduced price school lunch;
             100          (b) security features to maintain the integrity of the system, which could include
             101      statewide uniform testing dates, multiple test forms, and test administration protocols;
             102          (c) the exemption of student test scores, by exemption category, such as limited
             103      English proficiency, mobility, and students with disabilities, with the percent or number of
             104      student test scores exempted being publically reported at a district level;
             105          (d) compiling of criterion-referenced, online computer adaptive, and online writing test
             106      scores and test score averages at the classroom level to allow for:
             107          (i) an annual review of those scores by parents of students and professional and other
             108      appropriate staff at the classroom level at the earliest point in time;
             109          (ii) the assessment of year-to-year student progress in specific classes, courses, and
             110      subjects;
             111          (iii) a teacher to review, prior to the beginning of a new school year, test scores from
             112      the previous school year of students who have been assigned to the teacher's class for the new
             113      school year;
             114          (e) allowing a school district or charter school to have its tests administered and scored
             115      electronically to accelerate the review of test scores and their usefulness to parents and
             116      educators under Subsection (4)(d), without violating the integrity of U-PASS; and
             117          (f) providing that[: (i)] scores on the tests and assessments required under Subsection
             118      (2)(a) and Subsection (3) shall be considered in determining a student's academic grade for the
             119      appropriate course and whether a student shall advance to the next grade level[; and].
             120          [(ii) except as provided in Subsection 53A-1-611 (5), the student's score on the tenth


             121      grade basic skills competency test shall be recorded on the student's transcript of credits.]
             122          [(5) The State Board of Education shall consider administering the basic skills
             123      competency test on a Saturday to preserve instructional time.]
             124          [(6)] (5) (a) A school district or charter school, as applicable, is encouraged to
             125      administer an online writing assessment to students in grade 11.
             126          (b) The State Board of Education may award a grant to a school district or charter
             127      school to pay for an online writing assessment and instruction program that may be used to
             128      assess the writing of students in grade 11.
             129          [(7)] (6) The State Board of Education shall make rules:
             130          (a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding money for computer adaptive
             131      tests;
             132          (b) specifying how money for computer adaptive tests shall be allocated among school
             133      districts and charter schools that qualify to receive the money; and
             134          (c) requiring reporting of the expenditure of money awarded for computer adaptive
             135      testing and evidence that the money was used to implement computer adaptive testing.
             136          [(8)] (7) The State Board of Education shall assure that computer adaptive tests are
             137      administered in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 13, Part 3, Utah Family
             138      Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
             139          [(9)] (8) (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a committee consisting of 15
             140      parents of Utah public education students to review all computer adaptive test questions.
             141          (b) The committee established in Subsection [(9)] (8)(a) shall include the following
             142      parent members:
             143          (i) five members appointed by the chair of the State Board of Education;
             144          (ii) five members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
             145          (iii) five members appointed by the president of the Senate.
             146          (c) The State Board of Education shall provide staff support to the parent committee.
             147          (d) The term of office of each member appointed in Subsection [(9)] (8)(b) is four
             148      years.
             149          (e) The chair of the State Board of Education, the speaker of the House of
             150      Representatives, and the president of the Senate shall adjust the length of terms to stagger the
             151      terms of committee members so that approximately 1/2 of the committee members are


             152      appointed every two years.
             153          (f) No member may receive compensation or benefits for the member's service on the
             154      committee.
             155          [(10)] (9) (a) School districts and charter schools shall require each licensed employee
             156      to complete two hours of professional development on youth suicide prevention within their
             157      license cycle in accordance with Section 53A-6-104 .
             158          (b) The State Board of Education shall develop or adopt sample materials to be used by
             159      a school district or charter school for professional development training on youth suicide
             160      prevention.
             161          (c) The training required by this Subsection [(10)] (9) shall be incorporated into
             162      professional development training required by rule in accordance with Section 53A-6-104 .
             163          Section 3. Section 53A-1-604 is amended to read:
             164           53A-1-604. Test development, publication, and administration.
             165          (1) The State Board of Education shall develop, publish, and administer
             166      criterion-referenced tests [and a tenth grade basic skills competency test].
             167          (2) The board may use the expert services of any person in the public or private sector
             168      in:
             169          (a) evaluating current tests and assessment programs; or
             170          (b) developing, publishing, and administering new tests.
             171          Section 4. Section 53A-1-609 is amended to read:
             172           53A-1-609. Construction of part.
             173          [Except as otherwise provided in Section 53A-1-611 , nothing] Nothing in this part shall
             174      be construed to mean or represented to require that graduation from a high school or promotion
             175      to another grade is in any way dependent upon successful performance of any test administered
             176      as a part of the testing program established under this part.
             177          Section 5. Section 53A-1-611 is amended to read:
             178           53A-1-611. College readiness assessments.
             179          (1) The Legislature recognizes the need for the State Board of Education to develop
             180      and implement standards and assessment processes to ensure that student progress is measured
             181      and that school boards and school personnel are accountable.
             182          (2) [(a)] In addition to its responsibilities under Sections 53A-1-603 through


             183      53A-1-605 , the State Board of Education[, through the state superintendent of public
             184      instruction, shall design a basic skills competency test to be administered in the tenth grade.]
             185      shall:
             186          (a) adopt college readiness assessments for secondary students; and
             187          (b) require school districts and charter schools to administer the college readiness
             188      assessments adopted by the State Board of Education beginning with the 2013-14 school year.
             189          (3) The college readiness assessments adopted by the State Board of Education:
             190          (a) shall include the college admissions test that includes an assessment of language
             191      arts, mathematics, and science that is most commonly submitted to local universities; and
             192          (b) may include:
             193          (i) the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; and
             194          (ii) a battery of assessments that are predictive of success in higher education.
             195          (4) The State Board of Education shall require school districts and charter schools to
             196      administer a test adopted under Subsection (3)(a) to all students in grade 11.
             197          [(b) Except as provided in Subsection (5) and Section 53A-1-1001 , a student must pass
             198      the basic skills competency test, in addition to the established requirements of the state and
             199      local board of education of the district in which the student attends school, in order to receive a
             200      basic high school diploma of graduation.]
             201          [(c) The state board shall include in the test, at a minimum, components on English
             202      language arts and reading and mathematics.]
             203          [(d) Except as provided in Subsection (5) and Section 53A-1-1001 , a student who fails
             204      to pass all components of the test may not receive a basic high school diploma but may receive
             205      a certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma under rules made by the State
             206      Board of Education in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
             207      Act.]
             208          [(e) The state board shall make rules:]
             209          [(i) to allow students who initially fail the test to retake all or part of the test; and]
             210          [(ii) that take into account and are consistent with federal law relating to students with
             211      disabilities in the administration of the test.]
             212          [(3) The state board shall implement the tenth grade basic skills competency test, no
             213      later than the beginning of the 2003-04 school year.]


             214          [(4)] (5) The requirements of this section are to be complementary to the other
             215      achievement testing provisions of this part.
             216          [(5) (a) A student is exempt from the requirements of Subsection (2) if:]
             217          [(i) the student is enrolled in the tenth grade during:]
             218          [(A) the 2010-11 school year; or]
             219          [(B) the 2011-12 school year; or]
             220          [(ii) the student:]
             221          [(A) was enrolled in the tenth grade during:]
             222          [(I) the 2008-09 school year; or]
             223          [(II) the 2009-10 school year; and]
             224          [(B) did not pass the tenth grade basic skills competency test while the student was in
             225      tenth grade.]
             226          [(b) School districts and charter schools are exempt from administering the tenth grade
             227      basic skills competency test during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school year.]
             228          Section 6. Section 53A-1-613 is enacted to read:
             229          53A-1-613. Online test preparation program.
             230          (1) The State Board of Education shall contract with a provider, selected through a
             231      request for proposals process, to provide an online program to prepare students to take the
             232      college admissions test that includes an assessment of language arts, mathematics, and science
             233      that is most commonly submitted to local universities.
             234          (2) An online test preparation program described in Subsection (1):
             235          (a) (i) shall allow a student to independently access online materials and learn at the
             236      student's own pace; and
             237          (ii) may be used to provide classroom and teacher-assisted instruction;
             238          (b) shall provide online study materials, diagnostic exams, drills, and practice tests in
             239      an approach that is engaging to high school students;
             240          (c) shall enable electronic reporting of student progress to administrators, teachers,
             241      parents, and other facilitators;
             242          (d) shall record a student's progress in an online dashboard that provides diagnostic
             243      assessment of the content areas tested and identifies mastery of corresponding skill sets; and
             244          (e) shall provide training and professional development to personnel in school districts


             245      and charter schools on how to utilize the online test preparation program and provide
             246      teacher-assisted instruction to students.
             247          (3) To be eligible to administer a college admissions test provided by the State Board
             248      of Education from funds appropriated for college readiness assessments, a school district or
             249      charter school shall:
             250          (a) promote the use of the online test preparation program; and
             251          (b) inform parents and students of the availability of, and how to access and use, the
             252      online test preparation program.
             253          (4) The State Board of Education, school districts, and charter schools shall make the
             254      online test preparation program available to a student:
             255          (a) beginning in the 2013-14 school year; and
             256          (b) for at least one full year, except a student in grade 11 in the 2013-14 school year
             257      shall have access to the online test preparation program as soon as the program can be made
             258      operational.
             259          Section 7. Section 53A-3-602.5 is amended to read:
             260           53A-3-602.5. School performance report -- Components -- Annual filing.
             261          (1) For a school year beginning with or after the 2010-11 school year, the State Board
             262      of Education in collaboration with the state's school districts and charter schools shall develop
             263      a school performance report to inform the state's residents of the quality of schools and the
             264      educational achievement of students in the state's public education system.
             265          (2) The report described in Subsection (1) shall be written and include the following
             266      statistical data for each school in a school district and each charter school, as applicable, except
             267      as provided by Subsection (2)(g), and shall also aggregate the data at the school district and
             268      state level:
             269          (a) test scores over the previous year on:
             270          (i) criterion-referenced or online computer adaptive tests to include the scores
             271      aggregated for all students:
             272          (A) by grade level or course for the previous two years and an indication of whether
             273      there was a sufficient magnitude of gain in the scores between the two years; and
             274          (B) by class;
             275          (ii) online writing assessments required under Section 53A-1-603 ; and


             276          (iii) [tenth grade basic skills competency tests] college readiness assessments required
             277      under Section 53A-1-603 ;
             278          (b) college entrance examinations data, including the number and percentage of each
             279      graduating class taking the examinations for the previous four years;
             280          (c) advanced placement and concurrent enrollment data, including:
             281          (i) the number of students taking advanced placement and concurrent enrollment
             282      courses;
             283          (ii) the number and percent of students taking a specific advanced placement course
             284      who take advanced placement tests to receive college credit for the course;
             285          (iii) of those students taking the test referred to in Subsection (2)(c)(ii), the number and
             286      percent who pass the test; and
             287          (iv) of those students taking a concurrent enrollment course, the number and percent of
             288      those who receive college credit for the course;
             289          (d) the number and percent of students in grade 3 reading at or above grade level;
             290          (e) the number and percent of students who were absent from school 10 days or more
             291      during the school year;
             292          (f) achievement gaps that reflect the differences in achievement of various student
             293      groups as defined by State Board of Education rule;
             294          (g) the number and percent of "student dropouts" within the school district as defined
             295      by State Board of Education rule;
             296          (h) course-taking patterns and trends in secondary schools;
             297          (i) student mobility;
             298          (j) staff qualifications, to include years of professional service and the number and
             299      percent of staff who have a degree or endorsement in their assigned teaching area and the
             300      number and percent of staff who have a graduate degree;
             301          (k) the number and percent of parents who participate in SEP, SEOP, and
             302      parent-teacher conferences;
             303          (l) average class size calculated in accordance with State Board of Education rule
             304      adopted under Subsection (4);
             305          (m) average daily attendance as defined by State Board of Education rule, including
             306      every period in secondary schools; and


             307          (n) enrollment totals disaggregated with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, limited
             308      English proficiency, and those students who qualify for free or reduced price school lunch.
             309          (3) For a school year beginning with or after the 2010-11 school year, the State Board
             310      of Education, in collaboration with the state's school districts and charter schools, shall provide
             311      for the collection and electronic reporting of the following data for a school in each school
             312      district and each charter school:
             313          (a) test scores and trends over the previous four years on the tests referred to in
             314      Subsection (2)(a);
             315          (b) the average grade given in each math, science, and English course in grades 9
             316      through 12 for which criterion-referenced or online computer adaptive tests are required under
             317      Section 53A-1-603 ;
             318          (c) incidents of student discipline as defined by State Board of Education rule,
             319      including suspensions, expulsions, and court referrals; and
             320          (d) the number and percent of students receiving fee waivers and the total dollar
             321      amount of fees waived.
             322          (4) (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt common definitions and data
             323      collection procedures for local school boards and charter schools to use in collecting and
             324      forwarding the data required under Subsections (2) and (3) to the state superintendent of public
             325      instruction.
             326          (b) (i) In accordance with Subsections (4)(b)(ii) through (4)(b)(iv), the State Board of
             327      Education shall adopt rules specifying how average class size shall be calculated.
             328          (ii) (A) Except as provided by Subsections (4)(b)(ii)(B) through (4)(b)(ii)(D) or for
             329      nontraditional classes identified by rule, average class size at the elementary school level shall:
             330          (I) be calculated by grade level; and
             331          (II) indicate the average number of students who are assigned to a teacher for
             332      instruction together during a designated time period.
             333          (B) If students at the elementary school level receive instruction in core classes from
             334      different teachers, average class size may be calculated as provided by Subsection (4)(b)(iii) for
             335      secondary school students.
             336          (C) An elementary school class that includes students from multiple grade levels shall
             337      be counted as a single class.


             338          (D) An extended day class in which a portion of the class arrives early and the other
             339      portion stays late shall be counted as a single class.
             340          (iii) (A) Except as provided by Subsection (4)(b)(iii)(B) or for nontraditional classes
             341      identified by rule, average class size at the secondary school level shall:
             342          (I) be calculated for core language arts, mathematics, and science courses; and
             343          (II) indicate the average number of students who are assigned to a teacher for
             344      instruction together during a designated time period.
             345          (B) A secondary school class in which a teacher provides instruction in multiple
             346      courses shall be counted as a single class.
             347          (iv) Special education classes and online classes shall be excluded when determining
             348      average class size by grade at the elementary school level or the average class size of core
             349      language arts, mathematics, and science courses at the secondary level.
             350          (c) The State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public
             351      instruction, shall adopt standard reporting forms and provide a common template for collecting
             352      and reporting the data, which shall be used by all school districts and charter schools.
             353          (d) The state superintendent shall use the automated decision support system referred
             354      to in Section 53A-1-301 to collect and report the data required under Subsections (2) and (3).
             355          (5) (a) For a school year beginning with or after the 2010-11 school year, the State
             356      Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public instruction, shall issue its report
             357      annually by October 1 to include the required data from the previous school year or years as
             358      indicated in Subsections (2) and (3).
             359          (b) The State Board of Education shall publish on the State Board of Education's
             360      website U-PASS school reports for the 2009-10 school year that indicate the academic
             361      proficiency and progress of a school's students and whether the school meets state standards of
             362      performance.
             363          (6) (a) Each local school board and each charter school shall receive a written or an
             364      electronic copy of the report from the state superintendent of public instruction containing the
             365      data for that school district or charter school in a clear summary format and have it distributed,
             366      on a one per household basis, to the residence of students enrolled in the school district or
             367      charter school before November 30th of each year.
             368          (b) Each local school board, each charter school, and the State Board of Education


             369      shall have a complete report of the statewide data available for copying or in an electronic
             370      format at their respective offices.
             371          Section 8. Repealer.
             372          This bill repeals:
             373          Section 53A-1-612, Basic Skills Education Stipend Program.
             374          Section 9. Appropriation.
             375          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
             376      the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2014, the following sums of money
             377      are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
             378      previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
             379      addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2014.
             380          To State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education
             381          From Education Fund
$850,000

             382          Schedule of Programs:
             383              Assessment and Accountability            $850,000
             384          The Legislature intends that of the money appropriated under this section:
             385          (1) $700,000 shall be used for college readiness assessments, including the State Board
             386      of Education's administration and evaluation of college readiness assessments; and
             387          (2) $150,000 shall be used for an online test preparation program as provided in
             388      Section 53A-1-613 .
             389          Section 10. Effective date.
             390          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), if approved by two-thirds of all the members
             391      elected to each house, this bill takes effect upon approval by the governor, or the day following
             392      the constitutional time limit of Utah Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's
             393      signature, or in the case of a veto, the date of veto override.
             394          (2) Uncodified Section 9, Appropriation, takes effect on July 1, 2013.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-6-13 2:27 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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