No. 29478 (Amendment): R277-473-9. Standardized Testing Rules and Professional Development Requirement

DAR File No.: 29478
Filed: 02/01/2007, 04:15
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to provide for school districts to provide professional development for all teachers, administrators, and standardized test administrators concerning guidelines and procedures for standardized test administration, including teacher responsibility for test security and proper professional practices. Training will change from semi-annually to annually.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendment changes the time for school districts to provide professional development for all teachers, administrators, and standardized test administrators concerning guidelines and procedures for standardized test administration, including teacher responsibility for test security and proper professional practices from annually to semi-annually.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsection 53A-1-603(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to state budget as a result of this rule amendment. The change makes the time line for professional development training on this topic less stringent for school districts.

local governments:

There may be minimal savings to school districts as a result of this rule amendment because school districts are required to provide professional development training only once instead of twice a year.

other persons:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to other persons as a result of this rule amendment. There was never a cost for professional development training on this topic to teachers, administrators, and standardized test administrators.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. The amendment provides for less stringent guidance for compliance.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses. Patti Harrington, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

03/19/2007

This rule may become effective on:

03/27/2007

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-473. Testing Procedures.

R277-473-9. Standardized Testing Rules and Professional Development Requirement.

A. It is the responsibility of all educators to take all reasonable steps to ensure that standardized tests reflect the ability, knowledge, aptitude, or basic skills of each individual student taking standardized tests.

B. School districts shall develop policies and procedures consistent with the law and Board rules for standardized test administration, make them available and provide training to all teachers and administrators.

C. [At least twice e]Each school year, school districts shall provide professional development for all teachers, administrators, and standardized test administrators concerning guidelines and procedures for standardized test administration, including teacher responsibility for test security and proper professional practices[, R686-103-6(I)].

D. All teachers and test administrators shall conduct test preparation, test administration, and the return of all protected test materials in strict accordance with the procedures and guidelines specified in test administration manuals, school district rules and policies, Board rules, and state application of federal requirements for funding.

E. Teachers, administrators, and school personnel shall not:

(1) provide students directly or indirectly with specific questions, answers, or the subject matter of any specific item in any standardized test prior to test administration;

(2) copy, print, or make any facsimile of protected testing material prior to test administration without express permission of the specific test publisher, including USOE, and school district administration;

(3) change, alter, or amend any student answer sheet or any other standardized test materials at any time in such a way as to alter the student's intended response;

(4) use any prior form of any standardized test (including pilot test materials) that has not been released by the USOE in test preparation without express permission of the specific test publisher, including USOE, and school district administration;

(5) violate any specific test administration procedure or guideline specified in the test administration manual, or violate any state or school district standardized testing policy or procedure;

(6) knowingly and intentionally do anything that would inappropriately affect the security, validity, or reliability of standardized test scores of any individual student, class, or school;

F. Violation of any of these rules may subject licensed educators to possible disciplinary action under Rules of Professional Practices and Conduct for Utah Educators, R686-103-6(I).

 

KEY: educational testing

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [January 4, 2005]2007

Notice of Continuation: May 9, 2005

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-603(3); 53A-1-401(3)