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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
House: ED DP 6-4-0-2 | 3rd read 33-25-2-0
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HB 2540: statewide assessment; accommodations; written form
Sponsor: Representative Taylor, LD 29
Signed by the Governor
Overview
Modifies the circumstances in which a school district or charter school may administer the statewide assessment in the form of a written test. Allows a high school pupil to submit an official score report for a nationally recognized assessment and opt out of the statewide assessment administered by their school district or charter school.
History
The statewide assessment is adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) to measure student achievement of the academic standards in reading, writing and math in at least four grades designated by SBE. Statute authorizes SBE to also administer achievement assessments in social studies and science. SBE is required to determine the manner of implementation for statewide assessments. On request, a school district or charter school may administer the statewide assessment in the form of a written test (A.R.S. § 15-741).
SBE must also adopt a menu of achievement assessments from which each local education agency (LEA) that provides high school instruction may administer in lieu of the SBE-adopted statewide assessment. An achievement assessment used by an LEA must meet prescribed criteria, such as being a nationally recognized assessment, and may be added to the menu at the request of the LEA and upon SBE approval. A nationally recognized assessment is an assessment that is accepted by universities to award college credit or admissions (A.R.S. § 15-741.02).
The statewide achievement assessments for the 2024-2025 school year are: 1) Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (3rd-8th grades); 2) AzSCI (5th, 8th and 11th grades); 3) ACT Aspire (9th grade); and 4) the ACT with writing (11th grade). The SBE-adopted English language proficiency assessments and alternate assessment will also be administered to eligible students during the 2024-2025 school year (Assessments Overview 2024-2025).
An individualized education program (IEP) is a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed in accordance with federal law and regulations. An IEP must contain a statement of the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance and the special education and services to be provided (20 U.S.C. § 1401) (34 C.F.R. § 300.320).
A Section 504 plan is a written statement for a student with a disability that includes the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services that is designed to meet individual educational needs (A.R.S. § 15-731).
1. Stipulates a school district or charter school may administer the statewide assessment in the form of a written test pursuant to an IEP or Section 504 plan, to accommodate special circumstances, for religious purposes or on request by a pupil's guardian, rather than on request of the school district or charter school. (Sec. 1)
2. Allows a pupil or pupil's guardian, if a high school pupil participates in a nationally recognized assessment that is adopted by SBE and administered by a person other than the pupil's school district or charter school, to submit the pupil's official score report for the assessment to the school district or charter school. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires a school district or charter school, on receipt of an official score report, to record the official score report in the pupil's file and report the score to SBE and the Arizona Department of Education. (Sec. 1)
4. Allows a pupil to opt out of the statewide assessment administered by the pupil's school district or charter school if the pupil or the pupil's guardian submits, before the school administers the statewide achievement assessment, an official score report of a nationally recognized assessment that is not administered by the school district or charter school. (Sec. 1)
5. Requires a school district or charter school, if a pupil opts out of the statewide assessment administered by their school district or charter school, to use the data from the pupil's official score report for the pupil's statewide achievement test data. (Sec. 1)
6. Clarifies that a school district or charter school is not required to allow a pupil to opt out of the collection of non-test indicator data or other information collected about pupils who participate in the statewide assessment administered by the school district or charter school. (Sec. 1)
7. Defines nationally recognized. (Sec. 1)
8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
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12. HB 2540
13. Initials CH/LN Page 0 Signed by the Governor
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