S.B. 209

             1     

SCHOOL GRADING REVISIONS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

             5     
House Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies procedures and standards for assigning a letter grade to a school
             10      based on the proficiency, learning gains, or college and career readiness of the school's
             11      students.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    modifies the definition of sufficient growth;
             15          .    requires the State Board of Education to establish a growth target for a student for
             16      each statewide assessment the student takes;
             17          .    requires the State Board of Education to create an alignment of scale scores when
             18      transitioning between assessment systems;
             19          .    exempts from school grading a school that is designated as an alternative school by
             20      the State Board of Education;
             21          .    requires the State Board of Education to annually evaluate an alternative school in
             22      accordance with an accountability plan developed by the State Board of Education;
             23          .    exempts certain schools from school grading;
             24          .    defines a combination school and requires the State Board of Education to assign
             25      two school grades to a combination school;
             26          .    modifies the calculation of a high school's graduation rate;
             27          .    establishes a standard for determining whether a student is college ready for the


             28      purpose of school grading;
             29          .    requires the State Board of Education to lower a school grade by one letter grade if
             30      student participation in testing is less than 95%; and
             31          .    makes technical amendments.
             32      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             33          None
             34      Other Special Clauses:
             35          None
             36      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             37      AMENDS:
             38           53A-1-1102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478
             39           53A-1-1103 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478 and last amended by
             40      Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478
             41           53A-1-1104 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
             42           53A-1-1107 , as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478
             43           53A-1-1108 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478 and last amended by
             44      Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478
             45           53A-1-1110 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 478
             46      ENACTS:
             47           53A-1-1104.5 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             48           53A-1-1107.5 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             49     
             50      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             51          Section 1. Section 53A-1-1102 is amended to read:
             52           53A-1-1102. Definitions.
             53          As used in this part:
             54          (1) "Alternative school" means a school:
             55          (a) established to serve youth who are not succeeding in a traditional school
             56      environment; and
             57          (b) designated as an alternative school by the State Board of Education.
             58          (2) "Board" means the State Board of Education.


             59          (3) "Combination school" means a school that includes:
             60          (a) grade 12; and
             61          (b) a grade lower than grade 7.
             62          [(1)] (4) "High school" means:
             63          (a) a school that:
             64          (i) includes grade 12[.]; and
             65          (ii) does not include any grade lower than grade 7; or
             66          (b) grades 9 through 12 of a combination school.
             67          (5) "Individualized education program" or "IEP" means a written statement, for a
             68      student with a disability, that is developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with the
             69      Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.
             70          [(2)] (6) "Statewide assessment" means[: (a)] a criterion-referenced test of student
             71      achievement in language arts, mathematics, or science, including a test administered in a
             72      computer adaptive format[; and (b)], which is administered statewide under Part 6,
             73      Achievement Tests.
             74          [(3) "Student growth percentile" means the result of a statistical model that calculates
             75      each student's change in achievement between two or more points in time on a statewide
             76      assessment and compares each student's performance to that of similarly achieving students.]
             77          [(4)] (7) "Sufficient growth" means [a measurement of growth greater than or equal to
             78      growth at a specific percentile in the 2011-12 year adopted by the State Board of Education in
             79      rule.] a student's scale score on a statewide assessment is equal to or exceeds the student's
             80      growth target established pursuant to Section 53A-1-1107.5 .
             81          (8) "Year 1" means the first year of two consecutive years in which a student takes a
             82      statewide assessment in the same subject.
             83          (9) "Year 2" means the second year of two consecutive years in which a student takes a
             84      statewide assessment in the same subject.
             85          Section 2. Section 53A-1-1103 is amended to read:
             86           53A-1-1103. State Board of Education to establish school grading system --
             87      Report to Education Interim Committee.
             88          (1) (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a school grading system in
             89      accordance with this part in which a school annually is designated a grade of A, B, C, D, or F


             90      based on the performance of the school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high
             91      school, the graduation rate and, except for the 2012-13 school year, student performance on a
             92      college admissions test administered pursuant to Section 53A-1-611 .
             93          (b) The school grading system established in this part shall be known and referred to as
             94      "school grading."
             95          (2) The State Board of Education shall:
             96          (a) model the school grading system described in this part using school performance
             97      data for the 2010-11 school year;
             98          (b) study modifications to the school grading system; and
             99          (c) make recommendations for proposed legislation to the Education Interim
             100      Committee on modifications to the school grading system by the committee's September 2012
             101      meeting.
             102          (3) The school grading system shall take effect for the 2012-13 school year and shall
             103      replace the U-PASS accountability system developed and implemented by the State Board of
             104      Education.
             105          (4) For the purposes of school grading, the State Board of Education shall create an
             106      alignment mapping of scale scores when transitioning to a new assessment system to reflect the
             107      standards of academic achievement set by the State Board of Education.
             108          Section 3. Section 53A-1-1104 is amended to read:
             109           53A-1-1104. Schools included in grading system.
             110          (1) Except as provided in [Subsection] Subsections (2) through (5), a school that has
             111      students who take statewide assessments shall receive a school grade.
             112          (2) A school may not receive a school grade, if the number of a school's students tested
             113      is less than the minimum sample size necessary, based on accepted professional practice for
             114      statistical reliability or the prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable student
             115      data under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232h.
             116          (3) (a) An alternative school is exempt from school grading.
             117          (b) The board shall annually:
             118          (i) evaluate an alternative school in accordance with an accountability plan approved
             119      by the board; and
             120          (ii) report the results on a school report card.


             121          (c) The State Board of Education, a local school board, and a charter school governing
             122      board shall provide to a parent or guardian a school report card for an alternative school and
             123      electronically publish the school report card in the same manner and at the same time as other
             124      school report cards are provided and published pursuant to Section 53A-11-1112 .
             125          (4) The State Board of Education shall exempt a school from school grading in the
             126      school's first year of operations if the school's local school board or charter school governing
             127      board requests the exemption.
             128          (5) The State Board of Education shall exempt a high school from school grading or
             129      exempt a combination school from the school grading requirement described in Subsection
             130      53A-1-1104.5 (2) in the high school's or combination school's second year of operations if the
             131      school's local school board or charter school governing board requests the exemption.
             132          Section 4. Section 53A-1-1104.5 is enacted to read:
             133          53A-1-1104.5. Two school grades assigned to a combination school.
             134          The board shall assign two school grades to a combination school as follows:
             135          (1) the board shall assign a school grade based on the proficiency and learning gains of
             136      students who are enrolled in a grade below grade 9 as described in Sections 53A-1-1106 and
             137      53A-1-1107 ; and
             138          (2) the board shall assign a school grade based on:
             139          (a) the proficiency and learning gains of students who are enrolled in grades 9 through
             140      12, as described in Sections 53A-1-1106 and 53A-1-1107 ;
             141          (b) the school's graduation rate calculated in accordance with Section 53A-1-1108 ; and
             142          (c) the percentage of students considered college ready calculated in accordance with
             143      Section 53A-1-1108 .
             144          Section 5. Section 53A-1-1107 is amended to read:
             145           53A-1-1107. Calculation of points earned for students demonstrating sufficient
             146      growth in language arts, mathematics, and science.
             147          (1) A school shall receive points for a school's students demonstrating sufficient
             148      growth in language arts, mathematics, and science[, and writing] as follows:
             149          (a) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's students who
             150      take a statewide assessment of language arts achievement and make sufficient growth.
             151          (b) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's students who


             152      take a statewide assessment of mathematics achievement and make sufficient growth.
             153          (c) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's students who
             154      take a statewide assessment of science achievement and make sufficient growth.
             155          (2) A school shall receive points for a school's students who scored below the
             156      proficient level on statewide achievement tests in the prior year and who demonstrate sufficient
             157      growth in language arts, mathematics, and science as follows:
             158          (a) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's nonproficient
             159      students, as determined by prior year language arts test scores, who take a statewide assessment
             160      of language arts achievement and make sufficient growth.
             161          (b) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's nonproficient
             162      students, as determined by prior year mathematics test scores, who take a statewide assessment
             163      of mathematics achievement and make sufficient growth.
             164          (c) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's nonproficient
             165      students, as determined by prior year science test scores, who take a statewide assessment of
             166      science achievement and make sufficient growth.
             167          (3) A school may earn a maximum of 50 points for each of the criteria listed in
             168      Subsections (1)(a), (b), and (c) and (2)(a), (b), and (c).
             169          (4) The State Board of Education shall:
             170          (a) model the school grading system based on awarding points as described in
             171      Subsection (2) for students in the lowest quartile, as determined by prior year test scores, who
             172      make sufficient growth; and
             173          (b) submit a report on the model results to the Education Interim Committee no later
             174      than the committee's November 2013 meeting.
             175          Section 6. Section 53A-1-1107.5 is enacted to read:
             176          53A-1-1107.5. Growth target established to determine whether a student
             177      demonstrates sufficient growth in a subject.
             178          (1) (a) For the purpose of determining whether a student demonstrates sufficient
             179      growth in the 2013-14 school year in language arts, mathematics, or science as provided in
             180      Section 53A-1-1107 , the board shall establish a growth target for a student for each statewide
             181      assessment the student takes.
             182          (b) A student demonstrates sufficient growth in the 2013-14 school year if the student's


             183      scale score on a statewide assessment administered in the 2013-14 school year is equal to or
             184      exceeds the growth target established pursuant to Subsections (1)(c) and (1)(d).
             185          (c) The board shall establish a 2013-14 growth target for each cohort of students with
             186      the same scale score on a particular statewide assessment in the 2012-13 school year.
             187          (d) (i) The board shall establish a 2013-14 growth target based on actual student
             188      growth in the 2011-12 school year as measured by statewide assessments administered at the
             189      end of the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.
             190          (ii) Among a cohort of students with the same scale score on a particular statewide
             191      assessment in the 2010-11 school year, the scale score of the student who scores in the 2011-12
             192      school year, at a percentile determined by the board in rule, becomes the 2013-14 growth target
             193      for any student with a scale score in the 2012-13 school year that is the same as the cohort's
             194      scale score in the 2010-11 school year.
             195          (2) (a) For the purpose of determining whether a student demonstrates sufficient
             196      growth in the 2014-15 school year, or a succeeding school year, in language arts, mathematics,
             197      or science as provided in Section 53A-1-1107 , the board shall establish a year 2 growth target
             198      for a student for each statewide assessment the student takes.
             199          (b) A student demonstrates sufficient growth if the student's scale score on a statewide
             200      assessment in year 2 is equal to or exceeds the year 2 growth target established pursuant to
             201      Subsections (2)(c) and (2)(d).
             202          (c) The board shall establish a year 2 growth target for each cohort of students with the
             203      same scale score on a particular statewide assessment in year 1.
             204          (d) (i) The board shall establish a year 2 growth target based on actual student growth
             205      in the 2014-15 school year as measured by statewide assessments administered at the end of the
             206      2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.
             207          (ii) Among a cohort of students with the same scale score on a particular statewide
             208      assessment in the 2013-14 school year, the scale score of the student who scores on a similar
             209      statewide assessment in the 2014-15 school year, at a percentile determined by the board in
             210      rule, becomes the year 2 growth target for statewide assessments administered in the 2014-15
             211      school year and succeeding years for any student with a year 1 scale score that is the same as
             212      the cohort's scale score in the 2013-14 school year.
             213          Section 7. Section 53A-1-1108 is amended to read:


             214           53A-1-1108. Calculation of additional points earned for high school graduation
             215      and college and career readiness.
             216          (1) In addition to the points described in Sections 53A-1-1106 and 53A-1-1107 [and
             217      subject to Subsection (2)], a high school shall receive points, as determined by the State Board
             218      of Education, for:
             219          (a) the percentage of students who graduate from high school; and
             220          (b) except for the 2012-13 school year, the percentage of students who are considered
             221      college ready as measured by a college admissions test administered pursuant to Section
             222      53A-1-611 .
             223          (2) [In] (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), in calculating the percentage of
             224      students who graduate, the State Board of Education shall use the same graduation rate for a
             225      high school that is used under the federal [No Child Left Behind accountability] four-year
             226      cohort system.
             227          (b) In calculating a high school graduation rate for the purpose of school grading, the
             228      State Board of Education shall exclude from the four-year cohort for the graduating class a
             229      student with a disability who has an individualized education program that includes a plan to
             230      complete graduation requirements in more than four years.
             231          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), for the purpose of school grading, a
             232      student is considered college ready if the student's composite score on the ACT is at least 18.
             233          (b) The board may adopt by rule a higher composite score threshold on the ACT to be
             234      considered college ready for school grading purposes.
             235          [(3)] (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection [(3)] (4)(b), a school may earn a
             236      maximum of 300 points for the criteria described in Subsection (1) with one-half of the
             237      maximum number of points allotted to high school graduation and one-half allotted to the
             238      percentage of students who are considered college ready as measured by a college admissions
             239      test administered pursuant to Section 53A-1-611 .
             240          (b) For the 2012-13 school year, a school may earn a maximum of 150 points for the
             241      percentage of students who graduate from high school.
             242          Section 8. Section 53A-1-1110 is amended to read:
             243           53A-1-1110. Letter grade based on percentage of maximum points earned.
             244          (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), a school shall receive a letter grade


             245      based on the percentage of the maximum number of points the school may earn as calculated
             246      under Section 53A-1-1109 as follows:
             247          (a) A, 100% - 80%;
             248          (b) B, 79% - 70%;
             249          (c) C, 69% - 60%;
             250          (d) D, 59% - 50%; and
             251          (e) F, 49% or less.
             252          (2) When 85% of schools receive an A or B, the State Board of Education shall
             253      increase the endpoints of the ranges listed in Subsections (1)(a) through (1)(e) by five
             254      percentage points, except the lower endpoint of the A range may not be greater than 90%.
             255          (3) [A school shall receive an F] The board shall lower a school's grade by one letter
             256      grade if:
             257          (a) student participation in a statewide assessment is fewer than 95%; or
             258          (b) the participation of nonproficient students as determined by prior year test scores is
             259      fewer than 95%.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-18-14 10:16 AM


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