15-741

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.