No. 27710 (Amendment): R277-705-6. Utah Basic Skills Competency Testing Requirements and Procedures

DAR File No.: 27710
Filed: 02/15/2005, 05:12
Received by: NL

 

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is being amended to provide for makeup days in the administration of the required Utah Basic Skills Competency Test (UBSCT).

 

Summary of the rule or change:

The changes add language for schools to provide a makeup window not to exceed five school days following administration of the UBSCT. The amendments also add parent notification requirements.

 

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsections 53A-1-402(1)(b) and 53A-1-402(1)(c)

 

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget. Any costs will be absorbed by schools or school districts offering the test.

 

local governments:

There may be additional costs to schools or school districts for administrators to monitor additional test days. Schools or school districts must absorb those costs within existing budgets.

 

other persons:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to other persons. There is no charge to students for the UBSCT.

 

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. There is no charge to students for the UBSCT.

 

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 to 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:

03/31/2005

 

This rule may become effective on:

04/01/2005

 

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Coordinator School Law and Legislation

 

 

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-705. Secondary School Completion and Diplomas.

R277-705-6. Utah Basic Skills Competency Testing Requirements and Procedures.

A. All Utah public school students shall participate in Utah Basic Skills Competency testing, unless alternate assessment is designated in accordance with federal law or regulations or state law.

B. Timeline:

(1) Beginning with students in the graduating class of 2006, UBSCT requirements shall apply.

(2) No student may take any subtest of the UBSCT before the tenth grade year.

(3) Beginning in the 2004-2005 school year, UBSCT shall be given twice annually.

(4) Tenth graders should first take the test in the second half of their tenth grade year.

(5) Exceptions may be made with documentation of compelling circumstances.

C. UBSCT components, scoring and consequences:

(1) UBSCT consists of subtests in reading, writing and mathematics.

(2) Students who reach the established cut score for any subtest in any administration of the assessment have passed that subtest.

(3) Students shall pass all subtests to qualify for a basic high school diploma.

(4) Students who do not reach the established cut score for any subtest shall have multiple additional opportunities to retake the subtest.

(5) Students who have not passed all subtests of the UBSCT by the end of their senior year may receive a certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma.

(6) The certificate of completion or an alternative completion diploma may be converted to a basic high school diploma whenever the student completes all current state and district basic diploma requirements.

(7) Beginning in June 2006, an adult student enrolled in a Utah school district adult education program may receive an adult high school diploma by completing all state and district diploma requirements and passing all subtests of the UBSCT or may receive an adult alternative completion diploma consistent with district and state requirements.

(8) Specific testing dates shall be calendared and published at least two years in advance by the Board.

D. Reciprocity and new seniors:

(1) Students who transfer from out of state to a Utah high school after the tenth grade year may be granted reciprocity for high school graduation exams taken and passed in other states or countries based on criteria set by the Board and applied by the local board.

(2) Students for whom reciprocity is not granted and students from other states or countries that do not have high school graduation exams shall be required to pass the UBSCT before receiving a basic high school diploma if they enter the system before the final administration of the test in the student's senior year.

(3) The Board shall also establish criteria for granting a diploma to students who enter a Utah high school after the final administration of the test in their senior year.

(4) Students may appeal to the local board for exceptions.

E. Testing eligibility:

(1) Building principals shall certify that all students taking the test in any administration are qualified to be there.

(2) Students are qualified if they:

(a) are enrolled in tenth grade, eleventh, or twelfth grade (or equivalent designation in adult education) in a Utah public school program; or

(b) are enrolled in a Utah private/parochial school (with documentation) and are least 15 years old or enrolled at the appropriate grade level; or

(c) are home schooled (with documentation) and are at least 15 years old; and

(3) Students eligible for accommodations, assistive devices, or other special conditions during testing shall submit appropriate documentation at the test site.

F. Testing procedures:

(1) Three subtests make up the UBSCT: reading, writing, and mathematics. Each subtest shall be given on a separate day.

(2) The same subtest shall be given to all students on the same day, as established by the Board.

(3) All sections of a subtest shall be completed in a single day.

(4) Subtests are not timed. Students shall be given the time necessary within the designated test day to attempt to answer every question on each section of the subtest.

(5) [Make-up testing shall not be offered. Students who miss the opportunity to take a subtest on the day it is offered may arrange to take that subtest the next time it is given.]Makeup opportunities shall be provided to students for the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test according to the following:

(a) Students shall be allowed to participate in makeup tests if they were not present for the entire Utah Basic Skills Competency Test or subtest(s) of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test.

(b) School districts shall determine acceptable reasons for student makeup eligibility which may include absence due to serious illness, absence due to family emergency, or absence due to death of family member or close friend.

(c) School districts shall provide a makeup window not to exceed five school days immediately following the last day of each administration of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test.

(d) School districts shall determine and notify parents in an appropriate and timely manner of dates, times, and sites of makeup opportunities for the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test.

(6) Arrangements for extraordinary circumstances or exceptions shall be reviewed and decided by the UBSCT Advisory Committee on a case-by-case basis consistent with the purposes of this rule and enabling legislation.

 

KEY: curricula

[January 3, 2003]2005

Art X Sec 3

53A-1-402(1)(b)

53A-1-603 through 53A-1-611

53A-1-401(3)