REFERENCE TITLE: innovative assessment pilot program; appropriations

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2819

Introduced by

Representatives Lieberman: Pawlik

AN ACT

establishing the innovative assessment pilot program; appropriating monies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Innovative assessment pilot program; request for proposals; report; delayed repeal

A. The state board of education shall conduct a three-year innovative assessment pilot program during the 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.

B. Before the 2021-2022 school year, the state board of education shall issue a request for proposals to contract with the provider of an innovative assessment that demonstrates that the provider has the necessary expertise and research capabilities to determine whether interim innovative assessments could be reliably used to replace the statewide summative assessment.  The innovative assessment shall meet all of the following requirements:

1. Allow for both:

(a) The alignment to local scope and sequence.

(b) The assessment of multiple skill levels.

2. Provide results within a reasonable time period so that educators may use the results to amend instruction.

3. Assess all of the following topics for students in grades three through nine:

(a) English language arts.

(b) Reading.

(c) Mathematics.

C. Any school that is operated by a school district or charter school may apply to the state board of education in a form and manner prescribed by the state board to participate in the innovative assessment pilot program.  Participation in the pilot program is voluntary.

D. The state board of education shall select a representative sample of schools from among the applicants to participate in the innovative assessment pilot program, including schools from all of the following categories:

1. Rural schools.

2. Urban schools.

3. Schools in which a high percentage of students meet the economic eligibility requirements established under the national school lunch and child nutrition acts (42 United States Code sections 1751 through 1793) for free or reduced-price lunches.

E. Each school year, the state board of education shall expand the innovative assessment pilot program by selecting a greater number of participating schools than the year before.  By the 2023-2024 school year, the participating schools shall be representative of student population in this state and shall include urban, suburban and rural schools from across this state.

F. On or before December 31, 2024, the state board of education shall submit a report that summarizes the results of the innovative assessment pilot program to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.  The state board of education shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

G. The state board of education may adopt policies and procedures to carry out the purposes of the innovative assessment pilot program.

H. This section is repealed from and after March 31, 2025.

Sec. 2. Appropriations; state board of education; innovative assessment pilot program

The following amounts are appropriated from the state general fund in the following fiscal years to the state board of education for the costs of the innovative assessment pilot program:

1. In fiscal year 2021-2022, $750,000.

2. In fiscal year 2022-2023, $1,500,000.

3. In fiscal year 2023-2024, $1,750,000.