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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
statewide assessment; testing window; revisions
Purpose
Delays the date by which a local education agency (LEA) must receive statewide assessment test scores and data to May 26. Prohibits the statewide assessment testing window for students in grades three through eight from beginning before the fourth week of April during the school year and removes the authority for the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to adjust the testing window for the statewide assessment.
Background
Statute outlines requirements on the State Board of Education (SBE) relating to the administration of the statewide assessment, including requirements to: 1) adopt and implement a statewide assessment to measure pupil achievement of academic standards; 2) ensure that the assessments are uniform throughout the state; and 3) require in the contract for the statewide assessment that test scores and assessment data from the third grade reading portion of the statewide assessment be received by LEAs by May 15 of each academic year, and the scores and assessment data from all other portions of the statewide assessment be received by LEAs by May 25 of each academic year. The SBE must impose penalties on the statewide assessment contractor for scores received after the prescribed deadlines (A.R.S. § 15-741).
Any testing window established for the statewide assessment may not be longer than four consecutive school weeks. ADE, subject to review and approval by the SBE, may adjust the testing window for the statewide assessment in academic years that the SBE is revising current proficiency levels or is establishing new proficiency levels. If the SBE alters the statewide assessment testing window for any reason, the SBE may adjust the dates by which LEAs are required to receive the scores and assessment data proportionately (A.R.S. § 15-743).
The SBE establishes competency requirements for the promotion of pupils
from third grade, which must include a requirement that a pupil not be promoted
from third grade if the pupil obtains a score on the reading portion of the
statewide assessment that does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills as
determined by the SBE. A pupil may not be retained if data regarding the
pupil's performance on the statewide assessment is not available before the end
of the current academic year and may not be retained more than once. A pupil
who is not retained due to the unavailability of test data must receive
evidence-based intervention and remedial strategies if the third grade
assessment data subsequently does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills (A.R.S.
§ 15-701).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Delays the date by which the SBE must require in the contract for the statewide assessment for LEAs to receive test scores and data for:
a) the third grade reading portion of the statewide assessment from May 15 to May 26 of each academic year; and
b) all other portions of the statewide assessment from May 25 to May 26 of each academic year.
2. Directs the SBE to impose penalties on the statewide assessment contractor for scores received after May 26, rather than after May 15 for the third grade reading portion or May 25 for all other portions of the statewide assessment.
3. Allows the statewide assessment contractor to provide unofficial test scores and data from the statewide assessment to LEAs to comply with the prescribed deadline.
4. Removes the authorization for the SBE, if the SBE alters the statewide assessment testing window for any reason, to adjust the dates by which LEAs are required to receive scores and assessment data.
5. Prohibits the statewide assessment testing window for students in grades three through eight from beginning before the fourth week of April unless the assessment is an alternate assessment that is administered pursuant to a pupil's Section 504 plan or Individualized Education Program.
6. Removes the authorization for ADE to adjust the testing window for the statewide assessment in academic years that the SBE is revising current proficiency levels or establishing new proficiency levels for the statewide assessment.
7. Determines that a pupil may not be promoted from the third grade if the pupil does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills as established by the SBE, rather than if the pupil obtains a score on the statewide assessment that does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills as established by the SBE.
8. Specifies that a pupil who is not retained and obtains a score on the reading portion of the statewide assessment that does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills must receive evidence-based intervention and remedial strategies developed by the SBE.
9. Directs the SBE to enter into contracts with contractors to purchase tests that meet prescribed requirements.
10. Makes technical and conforming changes.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/27/26 DP 7-5-0-0
3rd Read 2/24/26 DPA 37-18-5-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2026
MH/KP/hk