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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
statewide assessment; accommodations; written form
Purpose
Modifies the circumstances in which a school district or charter school
may administer the statewide assessment in the form of a written test. Authorizes
a student to opt out of a
school-administered statewide assessment if the student submits an official
score report from a nationally recognized assessment as outlined.
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) must adopt and implement annual statewide assessments to measure pupil achievement of the SBE-adopted academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics and may administer assessments of the academic standards in social studies and science. The SBE must determine the manner of implementation for the statewide assessments. A statewide assessment must be given: 1) in English language arts and mathematics, annually in grades three through eight and at least once in high school; 2) in science, at least once in grades three through five, grades six through eight and in high school; and 3) in other subjects or for other students, at the direction of the SBE. Upon request of a school district or charter school, the statewide assessment may be administered in the form of a written test (A.R.S. § 15-741; A.A.C. R7-2-300).
Nationally recognized means accepted by universities for the purposes of awarding college credit or admissions (A.R.S. § 15-741.02).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Removes the authorization for a school district or charter school to request to administer a statewide assessment in the form of a written test.
2. Allows a school district or charter school to administer a statewide assessment in the form of a written test for the following purposes:
a) to accommodate special circumstances;
b) for religious purposes;
c) on request by a student's parent or guardian; or
d) if required pursuant to an IEP or Section 504 plan.
3. Authorizes, if a high school student participates in a nationally recognized assessment that is both adopted by the SBE and is administered by a person other than the school district or charter school, the student or student's parent or guardian to submit the student's official score report for the assessment to the school district or charter school.
4. Requires, on receipt of a student's official score report, a school district or charter school to:
a) record the score in the student's file;
b) report the score to the SBE and Arizona Department of Education (ADE); and
c) allow the student to opt out of participation in the school-administered statewide assessment, if the student or the student's parent or guardian submits the official score report before the school administers the statewide assessment.
5. Directs a school district or charter school, if a student opts out of the statewide assessment, to use the data from the student's official score report for the student's statewide assessment data.
6. Specifies that a school district or charter school is not required to allow a student to opt out of the collection of nontest indicator data or other information that is collected about students who participate in the school-administered statewide assessment.
7. Defines nationally recognized.
8. Makes technical and conforming changes.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Expands the circumstances in which a school district or charter school may administer the statewide assessment in a written form to include upon the request of a student's parent or guardian.
2. Makes conforming changes.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. The committee amendment was withdrawn.
2. Expands the circumstances in which a school district may administer the statewide assessment in a written form to include upon the request of a student's parent or guardian.
3. Authorizes, if a public high school student participates in a nationally recognized assessment that is not administered by the school, the student or student's parent or guardian to submit the student's official score report for the assessment to the school.
4. Requires, on receipt of an official score report, a school district or charter school to record the score in the student's file and report the score to the SBE and ADE.
5. Defines nationally recognized.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that a nationally recognized assessment must be adopted by the SBE and administered by a person other than the school district or charter school.
2. Requires a school district or charter school, if a student or parent submits an official score report as prescribed, to allow the student to opt out of participation in the school-administered statewide assessment.
3. Directs a school district or charter school, if a student opts out of the statewide assessment as outlined, to use the data from the student's official score report for the student's statewide assessment data.
4. Specifies that a school district or charter school is not required to allow a student to opt out of the collection of nontest indicator data or other information that is collected about students who participate in the school-administered statewide assessment.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
ED 2/4/25 DP 6-4-0-2 ED 3/19/25 DPA 7-0-0
3rd Read 2/20/25 33-25-2
Prepared by Senate Research
April 30, 2025
MH/KK/ci