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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
alternative testing; exemption; special education
Purpose
Allows qualified special education students to participate in alternative testing. Establishes an Alternative Assessment Study Committee (Study Committee) and outlines membership.
Background
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides free appropriate public education for eligible children with disabilities including special education and related services. IDEA directs a pupil's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to decide how the student will participate in standardized assessments and requires that all children with disabilities are subject to all general, state and district-wide assessment programs (20 U.S.C. § 1412).
Pupils who receive special education are not required to achieve passing scores on the statewide assessment or the test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test to graduate from high school, with exceptions. A pupil's IEP must include any necessary testing accommodations (A.R.S. § 15-763).
Special education refers to the adjustment of the environmental factors, modification of the course of study and adaptation of teaching methods, materials and techniques to provide educationally for those children who are gifted or have a disability and are 3 to 21 years old (A.R.S. § 15-1201).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt rules, to the extent allowed by federal law, allowing a special education pupil who meets SBE criteria to participate in alternative testing, rather than the required statewide assessment to measure pupil achievement.
2. Establishes the Study Committee and outlines membership as follows:
a) three members of the House of Representatives, including one member of the minority party, who are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Speaker);
b) three members of the Senate, including one member of the minority party, who are appointed by the President of the Senate (President);
c) two special education teachers appointed by the Speaker;
d) two parents of special education students appointed by the President;
e) one school district superintendent or their designee appointed by the Speaker;
f) one person with expertise in alternative assessments appointed by the President; and
g) the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) or their designee.
3. Requires the Speaker to designate one House of Representatives member as chairperson of the Study Committee.
4. Directs the Study Committee to discuss and evaluate:
a) methods for Arizona to improve outreach and professional development to ensure support for parents and educators of special education students who are not eligible for the alternative assessment;
b) accommodations provided to special education students while taking assessments;
c) guidance on properly identifying students for the alternative assessment;
d) professional development opportunities for special education educators and school administrators; and
e) development of a parent guidebook on assessments for students with special needs.
5. Requires, by December 1, 2020, the Study Committee to submit a report of its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Governor, the SPI, the Speaker and the President and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
6. Repeals the Study Committee on July 1, 2021.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/17/20 DPA 6-5-0-2
3rd Read 2/27/20 59-1-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2020
JO/MB/gs