Assigned to ED AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE
Assigned to ED AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
schools; statewide college readiness examination
Purpose
Allows, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, a local education agency (LEA) to choose an assessment from the menu of assessments and receive the funds they would have received if the LEA administered the statewide assessment.
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) is required to administer and implement a statewide test to measure pupil achievement of adopted academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics and is also permitted to adopt assessment in social studies and science (A.R.S. § 15‑741).
Laws 2016, Chapter 10 established a menu of locally-procured assessments from which LEAs may select an assessment to administer to pupils. For high school students, the menu is required to be available in the 2018-2019 school year and for grades three through eight, the menu is required to be available in the 2019-2020 school year (A.R.S. § 15‑741.02).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, the SBE to allow LEAs to choose an assessment from the menu of assessments or the statewide assessment.
2. Prohibits the SBE, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, from administering the:
a) statewide assessment to students in 11th grade; and
b) assessments of science academic standards to high school students.
3. Stipulates LEAs that choose an assessment from the menu will receive the funds they would have received if the LEA administered the statewide assessment.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Allows an LEA to choose an assessment from the menu of assessments, beginning in the 2018‑2019 school year, and be provided the same funds it would have received for administering the statewide assessment.
2. Removes the requirement for a statewide college readiness examination to be administered to all high school pupils.
House Action Senate Action
ED 2/12/18 DP 9-0-0-2 ED 3/22/18 DPA 7-0-0
3rd Read 2/21/18 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 27, 2018
BL/lb