Second Substitute H.B. 230

Representative Bradley M. Daw proposes the following substitute bill:

1 HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Bradley M. Daw
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6 Cosponsors:
7 Stephen D. Clark
8 Greg J. Curtis
9 Glenn A. Donnelson
10 John Dougall
11 James A. Ferrin
12 Craig A. FrankJames R. Gowans
Neil A. Hansen
Gregory H. Hughes
Bradley T. Johnson
Rebecca D. Lockhart
Ronda Rudd MenloveKaren W. Morgan
Curtis Oda
Aaron Tilton
Peggy Wallace
Richard W. Wheeler
Larry B. Wiley 13
14 LONG TITLE
15 General Description:
16 This bill allows a student passing certain tests to be exempt from the basic skills
17 competency test required for a basic diploma of graduation.
18 Highlighted Provisions:
19 This bill:
20 . allows a student passing certain tests to be exempt from the basic skills competency
21 test required for a basic diploma of graduation.
22 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
23 None
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 None
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 AMENDS:

28 53A-1-611, as last amended by Chapter 7, Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth Special Session
29
30 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 Section 1. Section 53A-1-611 is amended to read:
32 53A-1-611. Standards and assessment processes to measure student performance
33 -- Basic skills competency test.
34 (1) The Legislature recognizes the need for the State Board of Education to develop
35 and implement standards and assessment processes to ensure that student progress is measured
36 and that school boards and school personnel are accountable.
37 (2) (a) In addition to its responsibilities under Sections 53A-1-603 through 53A-1-605 ,
38 the State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public instruction, shall
39 design a basic skills competency test to be administered in the tenth grade.
40 (b) [A] Except as provided in Subsection (2)(e), a student must pass the basic skills
41 competency test, in addition to the established requirements of the state and local board of
42 education of the district in which the student attends school, in order to receive a basic high
43 school diploma of graduation.
44 (c) The state board shall include in the test, at a minimum, components on English
45 language arts and reading and mathematics.
46 (d) [A] Except as provided in Subsection (2)(e), a student who fails to pass all
47 components of the test may not receive a basic high school diploma but may receive a
48 certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma under rules made by the State
49 Board of Education in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
50 Act.
51 (e) A student may receive a basic high school diploma without passing the basic skills
52 competency test under this section if:
53 (i) the student receives a composite score on a nationally-normed college entrance
54 exam, including the ACT or SAT, that ranks in the top 15% of national composite scores; and
55 (ii) the student's score on each subtest, excluding a score on any optional subtest, ranks
56 in the top 25% of national scores for the subtest.
57 [(e)] (f) The state board shall make rules:
58 (i) to allow students who initially fail the test to retake all or part of the test; and

59 (ii) that take into account and are consistent with federal law relating to students with
60 disabilities in the administration of the test.
61 (3) The state board shall implement the tenth grade basic skills competency test, no
62 later than the beginning of the 2003-04 school year.
63 (4) The requirements of this section are to be complementary to the other achievement
64 testing provisions of this part.