Third Substitute S.B. 271

Representative Gregory H. Hughes proposes the following substitute bill:

1 SCHOOL GRADING AMENDMENTS
2 2013 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 the School Grading Act.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . defines terms;
13 . specifies that the school grading system shall be known and referred to as "school
14 grading";
15 . modifies the criteria and procedures for determining school grades, including:
16 . the calculation of learning growth; and
17 . the measurement of high school students' college and career readiness; and
18 . requires the State Board of Education to annually develop a personal student
19 achievement report for each public school student to be delivered to the student's
20 parent or guardian.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 This bill coordinates with S.B. 175, Assessment of College Readiness, by providing
25 substantive and technical amendments.

26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 AMENDS:
28 53A-1-1102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
29 53A-1-1103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 100
30 53A-1-1105, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
31 53A-1-1106, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
32 53A-1-1108, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
33 53A-1-1110, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
34 53A-1-1112, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 100
35 REPEALS AND REENACTS:
36 53A-1-1107, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
37 Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
38 53A-1-1103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 100
39 53A-1-1105, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
40 53A-1-1108, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 417
41
42 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43 Section 1. Section 53A-1-1102 is amended to read:
44 53A-1-1102. Definitions.
45 As used in this part:
46 (1) "High school" means a school that includes grade 12.
47 (2) "Statewide assessment" means [any of the following assessments that are
48 administered statewide under Part 6, Achievement Tests]:
49 (a) a criterion-referenced test of student achievement in language arts, mathematics, or
50 science, including a test administered in a computer adaptive format; [or] and
51 [(b) an online writing assessment.]
52 (b) which is administered statewide under Part 6, Achievement Tests.
53 (3) "Student growth percentile" means the result of a statistical model that calculates
54 each student's change in achievement between two or more points in time on a statewide
55 assessment and compares each student's performance to that of similarly achieving students.
56 (4) "Sufficient growth" means a measurement of growth greater than or equal to

57 growth at a specific percentile in the 2011-12 year adopted by the State Board of Education in
58 rule.
59 Section 2. Section 53A-1-1103 is amended to read:
60 53A-1-1103. State Board of Education to establish school grading system --
61 Report to Education Interim Committee.
62 (1) (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a school grading system in
63 accordance with this part in which a school annually is designated a grade of A, B, C, D, or F
64 based on the performance of the school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high
65 school, the graduation rate and, except for the 2012-13 school year, measures that indicate
66 college and career readiness.
67 (b) The school grading system established in this part shall be known and referred to as
68 "school grading."
69 (2) The State Board of Education shall:
70 (a) model the school grading system described in this part using school performance
71 data for the 2010-11 school year;
72 (b) study modifications to the school grading system; and
73 (c) make recommendations for proposed legislation to the Education Interim
74 Committee on modifications to the school grading system by the committee's September 2012
75 meeting.
76 (3) The school grading system shall take effect for the 2012-13 school year and shall
77 replace the U-PASS accountability system developed and implemented by the State Board of
78 Education.
79 Section 3. Section 53A-1-1105 is amended to read:
80 53A-1-1105. Criteria for determining school grades.
81 A school's grade shall be based on:
82 (1) the proficiency of a school's students in language arts, mathematics, and science[,
83 and writing] as measured by statewide assessments;
84 (2) learning gains of a school's students on statewide assessments of language arts,
85 mathematics, and science achievement; and
86 (3) for a high school:
87 (a) the graduation rate; and

88 (b) [measures] except for the 2012-13 school year, a measure indicating college and
89 career readiness.
90 Section 4. Section 53A-1-1106 is amended to read:
91 53A-1-1106. Calculation of points earned for students' proficiency in language
92 arts, mathematics, and science.
93 (1) A school shall receive points for the proficiency of a school's students in language
94 arts, mathematics, and science[, and writing] as follows:
95 (a) A school shall receive one point for each percent of the school's students who take a
96 statewide assessment of language arts achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
97 (b) A school shall receive one point for each percent of the school's students who take
98 a statewide assessment of mathematics achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
99 (c) A school shall receive one point for each percent of the school's students who take a
100 statewide assessment of science achievement and score at or above the proficient level.
101 [(d) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percent of the school's students who take
102 a statewide assessment of writing achievement and score at or above the proficient level.]
103 (2) [(a)] A school may earn a maximum of 100 points for each of the criteria listed in
104 Subsections (1)(a), (b), and (c).
105 [(b) A school may earn a maximum of 50 points for the criteria listed in Subsection
106 (1)(d).]
107 Section 5. Section 53A-1-1107 is repealed and reenacted to read:
108 53A-1-1107. Calculation of points earned for students demonstrating sufficient
109 growth in language arts, mathematics, and science.
110 (1) A school shall receive points for a school's students demonstrating sufficient
111 growth in language arts, mathematics, science, and writing as follows:
112 (a) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's students who
113 take a statewide assessment of language arts achievement and make sufficient growth.
114 (b) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's students who
115 take a statewide assessment of mathematics achievement and make sufficient growth.
116 (c) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's students who
117 take a statewide assessment of science achievement and make sufficient growth.
118 (2) A school shall receive points for a school's students who scored below the

119 proficient level on statewide achievement tests in the prior year and who demonstrate sufficient
120 growth in language arts, mathematics, and science as follows:
121 (a) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's nonproficient
122 students, as determined by prior year language arts test scores, who take a statewide assessment
123 of language arts achievement and make sufficient growth.
124 (b) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's nonproficient
125 students, as determined by prior year mathematics test scores, who take a statewide assessment
126 of mathematics achievement and make sufficient growth.
127 (c) A school shall receive 0.5 points for each percentage of the school's nonproficient
128 students, as determined by prior year science test scores, who take a statewide assessment of
129 science achievement and make sufficient growth.
130 (3) A school may earn a maximum of 50 points for each of the criteria listed in
131 Subsections (1)(a), (b), and (c), and (2)(a), (b), and (c).
132 (4) The State Board of Education shall:
133 (a) model the school grading system based on awarding points as described in
134 Subsection (2) for students in the lowest quartile, as determined by prior year test scores, who
135 make sufficient growth; and
136 (b) submit a report on the model results to the Education Interim Committee no later
137 than the committee's November 2013 meeting.
138 Section 6. Section 53A-1-1108 is amended to read:
139 53A-1-1108. Calculation of additional points earned for high school graduation
140 and college and career readiness.
141 (1) In addition to the points described in Sections 53A-1-1106 and 53A-1-1107 and
142 subject to Subsection (2), a high school shall receive points, as determined by the State Board
143 of Education, for:
144 (a) the [percent] percentage of students who graduate from high school; and
145 (b) except for the 2012-13 school year, indicators of college and career readiness.
146 (2) In calculating the [percent] percentage of students who graduate, the State Board of
147 Education shall use the same graduation rate for a high school that is used [to determine
148 whether the high school makes Adequate Yearly Progress] under the federal No Child Left
149 Behind accountability system.

150 (3) (a) [A] Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a school may earn a maximum of
151 [200] 300 points for the criteria described in Subsection (1) with [two-thirds] one-half of the
152 maximum number of points allotted to high school graduation and [one-third] one-half allotted
153 to indicators of college and career readiness.
154 (b) For the 2012-13 school year, a school may earn a maximum of 150 points for the
155 percentage of students who graduate from high school.
156 Section 7. Section 53A-1-1110 is amended to read:
157 53A-1-1110. Letter grade based on percentage of maximum points earned.
158 (1) Except as provided in [Subsection] Subsections (2) and (3), a school shall receive a
159 letter grade based on the [percent] percentage of the maximum number of points the school
160 may earn as calculated under Section 53A-1-1109 as follows:
161 (a) A, 100% - [90%] 80%;
162 (b) B, [89% - 80%] 79% - 70%;
163 (c) C, [79% - 70%] 69% - 60%;
164 (d) D, [69% - 50%] 59% - 50%; and
165 (e) F, 49% or less.
166 [(2) If student participation in a statewide assessment is fewer than 95%, the school
167 shall receive an F.]
168 (2) When 85% of schools receive an A or B, the State Board of Education shall
169 increase the endpoints of the ranges listed in Subsections (1)(a) through (1)(e) by five
170 percentage points, except the lower endpoint of the A range may not be greater than 90%.
171 (3) A school shall receive an F if:
172 (a) student participation in a statewide assessment is fewer than 95%; or
173 (b) the participation of nonproficient students as determined by prior year test scores is
174 fewer than 95%.
175 Section 8. Section 53A-1-1112 is amended to read:
176 53A-1-1112. Reporting.
177 (1) For the 2012-13 school year and thereafter, the State Board of Education, in
178 collaboration with school districts and charter schools, shall annually develop a school report
179 card and a personal student achievement report for each public school student to be delivered to
180 parents of students in public schools.

181 (2) The school report card shall include:
182 (a) the school's grade;
183 (b) the percentage of the maximum number of points that may be earned; and
184 (c) information indicating the school's performance on the various criteria upon which
185 the grade is based.
186 (3) The personal student achievement report shall include:
187 (a) information on a student's level of proficiency as measured by a statewide
188 assessment; and
189 (b) a comparison of a student's expected learning growth and actual learning growth in
190 a subject as measured by a statewide assessment.
191 (4) A school report card and personal student achievement report shall be delivered to
192 the parent or guardian of each student either electronically or by mail.
193 [(3)] (5) On or before [August 15] September 1, the State Board of Education shall
194 annually publish, on the State Board of Education's website, a report card for each school with
195 the information required in Subsection (2).
196 [(4)] (6) On or before [August 15] September 1, a school district shall annually publish
197 on the school district's website, and a school's website, a school report card with the grade for
198 the prior school year, together with the current school improvement plan established in
199 accordance with Section 53A-1a-108.5 .
200 [(5)] (7) On or before [August 15] September 1, a charter school shall annually publish
201 on the charter school's website a school report card with the grade for the prior school year.
202 Section 9. Coordinating S.B. 271 with S.B. 175 -- Substantive and technical
203 amendments.
204 If this S.B. 271 and S.B. 175, Assessment of College Readiness, both pass and become
205 law, the Legislature intends that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in
206 preparing the Utah Code database for publication, make the following changes:
207 (1) modify Subsection 53A-1-1103 (1)(a) to read:
208 "(1) (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a school grading system in
209 accordance with this part in which a school annually is designated a grade of A, B, C, D, or F
210 based on the performance of the school's students on statewide assessments, and for a high
211 school, the graduation rate and [measures that indicate college and career readiness], except for

212 the 2012-13 school year, student performance on a college admissions test administered
213 pursuant to Section 53A-1-611 .";
214 (2) modify Subsection 53A-1-1105 (3)(b) to read:
215 "(b) [measures indicating college and career readiness] except for the 2012-13 school
216 year, student performance on a college admissions test administered pursuant to Section
217 53A-1-611 .";
218 (3) modify Subsection 53A-1-1108 (1)(b) to read:
219 "(b) [indicators of college and career readiness] except for the 2012-13 school year, the
220 percentage of students who are considered college ready as measured by a college admissions
221 test administered pursuant to Section 53A-1-611 ."; and
222 (4) modify Subsection 53A-1-1108 (3)(a) to read:
223 "(3) (a) [A] Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a school may earn a maximum of
224 [200] 300 points for the criteria described in Subsection (1) with [two-thirds] one-half of the
225 maximum number of points allotted to high school graduation and [two-thirds] one-half
226 allotted to [indicators of college and career readiness] the percentage of students who are
227 considered college ready as measured by a college admissions test administered pursuant to
228 Section 53A-1-611 ."

[Bill Documents]