Bill > HB0234

This bill establishes the Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program, a five-year initiative allowing Local Education Agencies (LEAs), which are public school districts or charter schools, to administer an alternative assessment instead of the standard statewide summative assessments for English language arts, mathematics, and science. This alternative assessment, defined as a computer-adaptive, nationally norm-referenced test measuring achievement and growth, will not replace the required writing assessment for grades 5 and 8. The State Board of Education will select qualified providers for these alternative assessments, ensuring they align with state standards and can convert scores to the state's proficiency levels, while also adhering to federal requirements like the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Participation in the pilot program will be limited by percentages of students taking statewide assessments, with these limits increasing after July 1, 2029. Participating LEAs will be responsible for funding the alternative assessments and will need to administer them at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year, providing individual student reports to parents and posting aggregated results publicly. The State Board will also annually evaluate the program and report findings to the Education Interim Committee, which is a legislative committee that oversees education matters. The bill also includes a repeal date for the Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program on July 1, 2031, and specifies that this bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0234.html