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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session |
Senate: ED DP 7-0-1-0 | 3rd Read 30-0-0-0House: APPROP DPA 12-2-3-0 |
SB 1457: online instruction; virtual setting; assessments
Sponsor: Senator Bennett, LD 1
House Engrossed
Overview
Authorizes a school participating in Arizona online instruction (AOI) or a dropout recovery program that is provided online (virtual schools) to administer any state standardized assessment in a virtual setting, subject to outlined requirements and limitations.
History
The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts and implements statewide assessments to measure pupil achievement of SBE-adopted academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics. SBE must ensure that the statewide assessments are uniform and that the tests can be scored in an objective manner and are not intended to advocate any sectarian, partisan or denominational viewpoint (A.R.S. § 15-741).
AOI allows school districts and charter schools to develop and provide online instructional systems. State-approved charter authorizers sponsor charter schools and SBE selects district schools to be AOI schools or course providers. SBE and state-approved charter authorizers develop standards for the approval of AOI schools and course providers (A.R.S. § 15-808).
Provisions
1.
Authorizes
each virtual school to administer any state standardized assessment in a
virtual setting, if the virtual school:
a) assigns a specific date and time to administer the assessment to students;
b) administers the assessment in a synchronous session that is initiated and managed by personnel who are designated by the virtual school;
c) provides at least one proctor for every 10 students to monitor the students through synchronous video for the entire testing session;
d) requires each participating student to remain in the virtual setting until the student is instructed to exit the testing platform by their assigned proctor; and
e) verifies each assessment that is submitted by a student. (Sec. 1)
2. Stipulates that if a testing platform does not allow integrated camera proctoring, the student is required to use a second device with synchronous video that shows the student and their immediate area for the entire testing session. (Sec. 1)
4. Prohibits a virtual school, unless the assessment is available to be proctored in a virtual setting, from administering in a virtual setting:
a) a college readiness or workforce assessment provided by a national college and career readiness assessment provider;
b) an Advanced Placement examination;
c) an International Baccalaureate examination;
d) an alternate assessment indicated in a student's individualized education program; or
e) an English language proficiency assessment. (Sec. 1)
5. Directs the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), when sufficient monies are available, to include a provision for testing in a virtual setting in each contract ADE executes or extends with a third-party vendor for the provision of any assessment that is not one of the specified assessments. (Sec. 1)
6. Prohibits a virtual school from administering an assessment in a virtual setting until the first school year after the school year in which ADE executes a contract or contract amendment that allows for testing in a virtual setting.
7. Clarifies a virtual school is not required to administer any assessment in a virtual setting.
8. Requires ADE, by June 30, 2026 and if sufficient monies are available, to include the provision for testing in a virtual setting in each contract ADE executes or extends with a third-party vendor for the provision of an assessment to public schools.
9. Repeals the outlined contract provision requirement for ADE on January 1, 2027.
10. Defines assessment as a formal assessment, test or exam that an Arizona public school is required by state or federal law to administer to enrolled students. (Sec. 1)
11. Defines virtual school. (Sec. 1)
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SB 1457
Initials CH Page 0 House Engrossed
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