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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
alternative assessment; special education
Purpose
Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt rules allowing a pupil enrolled in a special education program to participate in an alternative assessment. Establishes the Alternative Assessment Study Committee (Study Committee).
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 SBE to adopt rules, to the extent allowed by federal law, that allow a pupil enrolled in a special education program to participate in an alternative assessment instead of the required statewide assessment, if SBE specified criteria is met.
2. Establishes the Study Committee to consist of the following members:
a) three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate (President), with;
i. one that is a member of the minority party; and
ii. one that is designated by the President to serve as the chairperson;
b) three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Speaker), with one that is a member of the minority party;
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) an expert in alternative assessments appointed by the President; and
g) the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) or their designee.
3. Requires the Study Committee to discuss and evaluate the following:
a) how Arizona can improve outreach and professional development to ensure support for parents and educators of special education students 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) developing a parent guidebook on assessments for students with special needs.
4. Requires the Study Committee to submit, by December 1, 2021, a report of its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Governor, SPI, Speaker and President, with a copy submitted to the Secretary of State.
5. Repeals the Study Committee on July 1, 2022.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 14, 2021
JO/JP/gs