15-741. Assessment of pupils

A. The state board of education shall:

1. Adopt rules for purposes of this article pursuant to title 41, chapter 6.

2. Adopt and implement an Arizona instrument to measure standards test to measure pupil achievement of the state board adopted academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics in at least four grades designated by the board. The board shall determine the manner of implementation. The board shall not require high school pupils to meet or exceed the standards measured by the Arizona instrument to measure standards test in any standards other than reading, writing and mathematics in order to graduate from high school. The board may administer assessments of the academic standards in social studies and science, except that a pupil shall not be required to meet or exceed the social studies or science standards measured by the Arizona instrument to measure standards test in order to graduate from high school.

3. Adopt and implement a statewide nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test in reading, language arts and mathematics, except that the superintendent of public instruction may determine additional grade levels for which pupils are tested. The tests shall be consistent with the state standards and shall be administered during the spring of each year between March 15 and May 1.

4. Ensure that the tests prescribed in this section are uniform throughout the state.

5. Ensure that the tests prescribed in this section are able to be scored in an objective manner and that the tests are not intended to advocate any sectarian, partisan or denominational viewpoint.

6. Ensure that the results of the nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement tests established as provided in this article are comparable to associated grade equivalents, percentiles and stanines derived from a multistate sample.

7. Include within its budget all costs pertaining to the tests prescribed in this article. If sufficient monies are appropriated, the state board may provide norm-referenced achievement test services to school districts which request assistance in testing pupils in grades additional to those required by this section.

8. Use subtests of the statewide nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test as designated by the state board to assess pupils in reading, language arts and mathematics, at a level appropriate for their grade level.

9. Survey teachers, principals and superintendents on achievement related nontest indicators, including information on graduation rates by ethnicity and dropout rates by ethnicity for each grade level. Before the survey, the state board of education shall approve at a public meeting the nontest indicators on which data will be collected. In conducting the survey and collecting data, the state board of education shall not violate the provisions of the family educational rights and privacy act (P.L. 93-380), as amended, nor disclose personally identifiable information.

10. Establish a fair and consistent method and standard by which norm-referenced test scores from schools in a district may be evaluated taking into consideration demographic data. The board shall establish intervention strategies to assist schools with scores below the acceptable standard. The board shall annually review district and school scores and shall offer assistance to school districts in analyzing data and implementing intervention strategies. The board shall use the adopted norm-referenced test and methods of data evaluation for a period of at least ten years.

11. Participate in other assessments that provide national comparisons as needed.

B. The standardized norm-referenced achievement tests adopted by the state board as provided in subsection A shall be given annually. The tests shall be administered over a one week period between March 15 and May 1. Nontest indicator data and other information shall be collected at the same time as the collection of standardized norm-referenced achievement test data.

C. Local school district governing boards shall:

1. Administer the tests prescribed in subsection A.

2. Survey teachers, principals and superintendents on achievement related nontest indicator data as required by the state board, including information related to district graduation and dropout rates. In conducting the survey and collecting data, the governing board shall not violate the provisions of the family educational rights and privacy act (P.L. 93-380), as amended, nor disclose personally identifiable information.

D. Any additional assessments for high school pupils that are adopted by the state board of education after the effective date of this amendment to this section shall be designed to measure college and career readiness of pupils.

E. A test for penmanship shall not be required pursuant to this article.

15-741. Assessment of pupils

A. The state board of education shall:

1. Adopt rules for purposes of this article pursuant to title 41, chapter 6.

2. Adopt and implement an Arizona instrument to measure standards test to measure pupil achievement of the state board adopted academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics in at least four grades designated by the board. The board shall determine the manner of implementation. The board shall not require high school pupils to meet or exceed the standards measured by the Arizona instrument to measure standards test in any standards other than reading, writing and mathematics in order to graduate from high school. The board may administer assessments of the academic standards in social studies and science, except that a pupil shall not be required to meet or exceed the social studies or science standards measured by the Arizona instrument to measure standards test in order to graduate from high school.

3. Adopt and implement a statewide nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test in reading, language arts and mathematics, except that the superintendent of public instruction may determine additional grade levels for which pupils are tested. The tests shall be consistent with the state standards and shall be administered during the spring of each year between March 15 and May 1.

4. Ensure that the tests prescribed in this section are uniform throughout the state.

5. Ensure that the tests prescribed in this section are able to be scored in an objective manner and that the tests are not intended to advocate any sectarian, partisan or denominational viewpoint.

6. Ensure that the results of the nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement tests established as provided in this article are comparable to associated grade equivalents, percentiles and stanines derived from a multistate sample.

7. Include within its budget all costs pertaining to the tests prescribed in this article. If sufficient monies are appropriated, the state board may provide norm-referenced achievement test services to school districts which request assistance in testing pupils in grades additional to those required by this section.

8. Use subtests of the statewide nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test as designated by the state board to assess pupils in reading, language arts and mathematics, at a level appropriate for their grade level.

9. Survey teachers, principals and superintendents on achievement related nontest indicators, including information on graduation rates by ethnicity and dropout rates by ethnicity for each grade level. Before the survey, the state board of education shall approve at a public meeting the nontest indicators on which data will be collected. In conducting the survey and collecting data, the state board of education shall not violate the provisions of the family educational rights and privacy act (P.L. 93-380), as amended, nor disclose personally identifiable information.

10. Establish a fair and consistent method and standard by which norm-referenced test scores from schools in a district may be evaluated taking into consideration demographic data. The board shall establish intervention strategies to assist schools with scores below the acceptable standard. The board shall annually review district and school scores and shall offer assistance to school districts in analyzing data and implementing intervention strategies. The board shall use the adopted norm-referenced test and methods of data evaluation for a period of at least ten years.

11. Participate in other assessments that provide national comparisons as needed.

B. The standardized norm-referenced achievement tests adopted by the state board as provided in subsection A shall be given annually. The tests shall be administered over a one week period between March 15 and May 1. Nontest indicator data and other information shall be collected at the same time as the collection of standardized norm-referenced achievement test data.

C. Local school district governing boards shall:

1. Administer the tests prescribed in subsection A.

2. Survey teachers, principals and superintendents on achievement related nontest indicator data as required by the state board, including information related to district graduation and dropout rates. In conducting the survey and collecting data, the governing board shall not violate the provisions of the family educational rights and privacy act (P.L. 93-380), as amended, nor disclose personally identifiable information.

D. Any additional assessments for high school pupils that are adopted by the state board of education after the effective date of this amendment to this section shall be designed to measure college and career readiness of pupils.

E. A test for penmanship shall not be required pursuant to this article.