Second Substitute H.B. 155

Representative Neil A. Hansen proposes the following substitute bill:

1 EDUCATION TESTING AND GRADUATION
2 AMENDMENTS
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Neil A. Hansen
6 Senate Sponsor: Karen Hale
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies requirements for receiving a high school diploma.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . provides that a student who passes the basic skills competency test and satisfies
14 other graduation requirements shall receive a high school diploma that states the
15 student passed the basic skills competency test;
16 . provides that a student who fails to pass all components of the basic skills
17 competency test may receive a high school diploma or certificate of completion in
18 accordance with rules of the State Board of Education;
19 . directs the State Board of Education to make rules providing for:
20 . reciprocity for students who pass a high school exit exam in another state;
21 . adult education students to take the basic skills competency test; and
22 . adult education students who pass the GED to receive a diploma that states the
23 student passed a basic skills test.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None

26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None
28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 53A-1-611, as last amended by Chapter 7, Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth Special Session
31
32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 53A-1-611 is amended to read:
34 53A-1-611. Standards and assessment processes to measure student performance
35 -- Basic skills competency test.
36 (1) The Legislature recognizes the need for the State Board of Education to develop
37 and implement standards and assessment processes to ensure that student progress is measured
38 and that school boards and school personnel are accountable.
39 (2) (a) In addition to its responsibilities under Sections 53A-1-603 through 53A-1-605 ,
40 the State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public instruction, shall
41 design a basic skills competency test to be administered in the tenth grade.
42 [(b) A student must pass the basic skills competency test, in addition to the established
43 requirements of the state and local board of education of the district in which the student
44 attends school, in order to receive a basic high school diploma of graduation.]
45 [(c)] (b) The state board shall include in the test, at a minimum, components on
46 English language arts and reading and mathematics.
47 [(d) A student who fails to pass all components of the test may not receive a basic high
48 school diploma but may receive a certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma
49 under rules made by the State Board of Education in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
50 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.]
51 (3) A student who passes the basic skills competency test and satisfies graduation
52 requirements established by the State Board of Education and local board of education or
53 charter school shall receive a high school diploma that states the student passed the basic skills
54 competency test.
55 (4) In accordance with rules made by the State Board of Education, a student who fails
56 to pass all components or subtests of the basic skills competency test may receive a high school

57 diploma or a certificate of completion.
58 (5) Assessment accommodations or modifications for the basic skills competency test
59 shall be available for students with disabilities who have an individualized education plan and
60 students with a 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 794, as
61 provided by rules of the State Board of Education.
62 [(e)] (6) The state board shall make rules:
63 [(i)] (a) to allow students who initially fail the test to retake all or part of the test; [and]
64 [(ii)] (b) that take into account and are consistent with federal law relating to students
65 with disabilities in the administration of the test[.];
66 (c) that provide for reciprocity for a student who passed a high school exit exam in
67 another state;
68 (d) that provide for adult education students to participate in administrations of the
69 basic skills competency test; and
70 (e) that provide for an adult education student who exited the public education system
71 and passed the GED test to receive a high school diploma that states the student passed a basic
72 skills test.
73 [(3)] (7) The state board shall implement the tenth grade basic skills competency test,
74 no later than the beginning of the 2003-04 school year.
75 [(4)] (8) The requirements of this section are to be complementary to the other
76 achievement testing provisions of this part.