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S.B. 59

             1     

SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser

             5     
House Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill establishes a school grading system based on the performance of a school's
             10      students on statewide assessments, and for high schools, the graduation rate.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms;
             14          .    requires the State Board of Education to establish a school grading system in which
             15      a school receives a grade of A, B, C, D, or F based on the performance of the
             16      school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high school, the graduation
             17      rate;
             18          .    specifies the criteria upon which a school grade is based and procedures for
             19      determining a school's grade;
             20          .    imposes requirements for the reporting of a school's grade; and
             21          .    directs the State Board of Education to make rules, as necessary, to implement the
             22      school grading system.
             23      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:
             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             28      AMENDS:
             29          63A-3-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 310
             30      ENACTS:
             31          53A-1-1101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          53A-1-1102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          53A-1-1103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          53A-1-1104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          53A-1-1105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          53A-1-1106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          53A-1-1107, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          53A-1-1108, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39     
             40      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             41          Section 1. Section 53A-1-1101 is enacted to read:
             42     
Part 11. School Grading Act

             43          53A-1-1101. Title.
             44          This part is known as the "School Grading Act."
             45          Section 2. Section 53A-1-1102 is enacted to read:
             46          53A-1-1102. Definitions.
             47          As used in this part:
             48          (1) "Lowest 25% of students" means students who, based upon prior year scores on a
             49      statewide assessment of student achievement in language arts or mathematics, were in the
             50      lowest performing 25% of students in a grade.
             51          (2) "Statewide assessment" means any of the following assessments that are
             52      administered statewide under Part 6, Achievement Tests:
             53          (a) a criterion-referenced test of student achievement in language arts, mathematics, or
             54      science, including a test administered in a computer adaptive format; or
             55          (b) an online writing assessment.
             56          Section 3. Section 53A-1-1103 is enacted to read:
             57          53A-1-1103. Schools included in grading system.
             58          (1) The State Board of Education shall establish a school grading system in accordance


             59      with this part in which a school annually is designated a grade of A, B, C, D, or F based on the
             60      performance of the school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high school, the
             61      graduation rate.
             62          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a school that has students who take
             63      statewide assessments shall receive a school grade.
             64          (b) A school may not receive a school grade, if the number of a school's students tested
             65      is less than the minimum sample size necessary, based on accepted professional practice for
             66      statistical reliability or the prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable student
             67      data under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232.
             68          Section 4. Section 53A-1-1104 is enacted to read:
             69          53A-1-1104. Criteria for determining school grades.
             70          A school's grade shall be based on:
             71          (1) the achievement level of a school's students in language arts, mathematics, science,
             72      and writing as measured by statewide assessments;
             73          (2) learning gains of a school's students on statewide assessments of language arts and
             74      mathematics achievement;
             75          (3) learning gains of the lowest 25% of students on statewide assessments of language
             76      arts and mathematics achievement; and
             77          (4) for a high school, the graduation rate.
             78          Section 5. Section 53A-1-1105 is enacted to read:
             79          53A-1-1105. Procedure for calculating school grades.
             80          (1) A school shall receive points as follows:
             81          (a) one point for each percent of the school's students who take a statewide assessment
             82      of language arts achievement and score at or above the proficient level;
             83          (b) one point for each percent of the school's students who take a statewide assessment
             84      of mathematics achievement and score at or above the proficient level;
             85          (c) one point for each percent of the school's students who take a statewide assessment
             86      of science achievement and score at or above the proficient level;
             87          (d) one point for each percent of the school's students who take a statewide assessment
             88      of writing achievement and score at or above the proficient level;
             89          (e) one point for each percent of the school's students who:


             90          (i) take a statewide assessment of language arts achievement for each of two successive
             91      school years; and:
             92          (ii) (A) improve their achievement level from one school year to the next; or
             93          (B) maintain a proficient level or higher from one school year to the next;
             94          (f) one point for each percent of the school's students who:
             95          (i) take a statewide assessment of mathematics achievement for each of two successive
             96      school years; and:
             97          (ii) (A) improve their achievement level from one school year to the next; or
             98          (B) maintain a proficient level or higher from one school year to the next;
             99          (g) one point for each percent of the school's students among the lowest 25% of
             100      students who:
             101          (i) take a statewide assessment of language arts achievement for each of two successive
             102      school years; and
             103          (ii) (A) improve their achievement level from one school year to the next; or
             104          (B) maintain a proficient level or higher from one school year to the next; and
             105          (h) one point for each percent of the school's students among the lowest 25% of
             106      students who:
             107          (i) take a statewide assessment of mathematics achievement for each of two successive
             108      school years; and
             109          (ii) (A) improve their achievement level from one school year to the next; or
             110          (B) maintain a proficient level or higher from one school year to the next.
             111          (2) In addition to the points described in Subsection (1), a high school shall receive one
             112      point for each percent of students who graduates using the four-year cohort graduate rate the
             113      state uses to determine Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal No Child Left
             114      Behind accountability system.
             115          (3) A school may receive up to 100 points for each of the criteria listed in Subsections
             116      (1)(a) through (1)(h) and Subsection (2).
             117          (4) The percent of the maximum number of points a school may earn shall be
             118      calculated by:
             119          (a) dividing the sum of the points earned for the criteria listed in Subsections (1)(a)
             120      through (1)(h) and Subsection (2) by the maximum number of points that the school could


             121      earn; and
             122          (b) multiplying the quotient calculated under Subsection (4)(a) by 100.
             123          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b) or (c), a school shall be assigned a letter
             124      grade based on the percent of the maximum number of points the school may earn as calculated
             125      under Subsection (4) as follows:
             126          (i) A, 100% - 90%;
             127          (ii) B, 89% - 80%;
             128          (iii) C, 79% - 70%;
             129          (iv) D, 69% - 50%; and
             130          (v) F, 49% or less.
             131          (b) If student participation in a statewide assessment is less than 95%, the school's
             132      grade shall be lowered by one letter grade.
             133          (c) If 80% or more schools qualify for a grade of A or B, the State Board of Education
             134      shall increase the upper and lower ends of the ranges specified in Subsections (5)(a)(i) through
             135      (v) by two percentage points.
             136          Section 6. Section 53A-1-1106 is enacted to read:
             137          53A-1-1106. Students with disabilities.
             138          (1) In implementing the school grading system, the State Board of Education shall
             139      provide for the inclusion of the test scores of a student with a disability.
             140          (2) Test scores on an alternative assessment administered to a student with a disability
             141      may substitute for a statewide assessment as defined in Section 53A-1-1102 .
             142          Section 7. Section 53A-1-1107 is enacted to read:
             143          53A-1-1107. Reporting.
             144          (1) The State Board of Education, in collaboration with school districts and charter
             145      schools, shall annually develop a school report card to be delivered to parents of students in
             146      public schools.
             147          (2) The report card shall include:
             148          (a) a school's grade for each of the prior three school years and an explanation of the
             149      criteria upon which the school grade is based; and
             150          (b) a school improvement plan developed in accordance with Section 53A-1a-108.5 .
             151          (3) On or before July 31, the State Board of Education shall annually publish, on the


             152      State Board of Education's website, a report card for each school with the grade for the prior
             153      school year.
             154          (4) (a) A school district or charter school shall provide a school report card, which
             155      shall include the school improvement plan, to the parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled
             156      in the school district or charter school.
             157          (b) On or before July 31:
             158          (i) a school district shall annually publish on the school district's website, and a
             159      school's website, a school report card with the grade for the prior school year; and
             160          (ii) a charter school shall annually publish on the charter school's website a school
             161      report card with the grade for the prior school year.
             162          Section 8. Section 53A-1-1108 is enacted to read:
             163          53A-1-1108. Rules.
             164          The State Board of Education shall make rules, as necessary, to implement a school
             165      grading system in accordance with this part.
             166          Section 9. Section 63A-3-402 is amended to read:
             167           63A-3-402. Utah Public Finance Website -- Establishment and administration --
             168      Records disclosure.
             169          (1) There is created the Utah Public Finance Website to be administered by the
             170      Division of Finance with the technical assistance of the Department of Technology Services.
             171          (2) The Utah Public Finance Website shall:
             172          (a) permit Utah taxpayers to:
             173          (i) view, understand, and track the use of taxpayer dollars by making public financial
             174      information available on the Internet for participating state entities' and participating local
             175      entities, using the Utah Public Finance Website; and
             176          (ii) link to websites administered by participating local entities that do not use the Utah
             177      Public Finance Website for the purpose of providing participating local entities' public
             178      financial information as required by this part and by rule under Section 63A-3-404 ;
             179          (b) allow a person who has Internet access to use the website without paying a fee;
             180          (c) allow the public to search public financial information on the Utah Public Finance
             181      Website using those criteria established by the board;
             182          (d) provide access to financial reports, financial audits, budgets, or other financial


             183      documents that are used to allocate, appropriate, spend, and account for the government funds,
             184      as may be established by rule under Section 63A-3-404 ;
             185          (e) have a unique and simplified website address;
             186          (f) be directly accessible via a link from the main page of the official state website;
             187      [and]
             188          (g) include other links, features, or functionality that will assist the public in obtaining
             189      and reviewing public financial information, as may be established by rule under Section
             190      63A-3-404 [.]; and
             191          (h) include a link to school report cards published on the State Board of Education's
             192      website pursuant to Section 53A-1-1107 .
             193          (3) The division shall:
             194          (a) establish and maintain the website, including the provision of equipment, resources,
             195      and personnel as is necessary;
             196          (b) maintain an archive of all information posted to the website;
             197          (c) coordinate and process the receipt and posting of public financial information from
             198      participating state entities;
             199          (d) coordinate and regulate the posting of public financial information by participating
             200      local entities; and
             201          (e) provide staff support for the advisory committee.
             202          (4) (a) A participating state entity shall permit the public to view the participating
             203      entity's public financial information via the website, beginning with information that is
             204      generated not later than the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008, except that public financial
             205      information for an institution of higher education shall be provided beginning with information
             206      generated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009.
             207          (b) Not later than May 15, 2009, the website shall:
             208          (i) be operational; and
             209          (ii) permit public access to participating state entities' public financial information,
             210      except as provided in Subsection (4)(c).
             211          (c) An institution of higher education that is a participating state entity shall submit the
             212      entity's public financial information at a time allowing for inclusion on the website no later
             213      than May 15, 2010.


             214          (5) A person who negligently discloses a record that is classified as private, protected,
             215      or controlled by Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, is
             216      not criminally or civilly liable for an improper disclosure of the record if the record is disclosed
             217      solely as a result of the preparation or publication of the Utah Public Finance Website.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-28-11 6:14 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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