State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Utah > Title-53a > Chapter-01 > 53a-1-611

53A-1-611. Standards and assessment processes to measure student performance --Basic skills competency test.
(1) The Legislature recognizes the need for the State Board of Education to develop andimplement standards and assessment processes to ensure that student progress is measured andthat school boards and school personnel are accountable.
(2) (a) In addition to its responsibilities under Sections 53A-1-603 through 53A-1-605,the State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public instruction, shall designa basic skills competency test to be administered in the tenth grade.
(b) Except as provided in Subsections (5) and (6) and Section 53A-1-1001, a studentmust pass the basic skills competency test, in addition to the established requirements of the stateand local board of education of the district in which the student attends school, in order to receivea basic high school diploma of graduation.
(c) The state board shall include in the test, at a minimum, components on Englishlanguage arts and reading and mathematics.
(d) Except as provided in Subsections (5) and (6) and Section 53A-1-1001, a studentwho fails to pass all components of the test may not receive a basic high school diploma but mayreceive a certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma under rules made by theState Board of Education in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah AdministrativeRulemaking Act.
(e) The state board shall make rules:
(i) to allow students who initially fail the test to retake all or part of the test; and
(ii) that take into account and are consistent with federal law relating to students withdisabilities in the administration of the test.
(3) The state board shall implement the tenth grade basic skills competency test, no laterthan the beginning of the 2003-04 school year.
(4) The requirements of this section are to be complementary to the other achievementtesting provisions of this part.
(5) A student enrolled in a school district or charter school that is exempt fromadministering the tenth grade basic skills competency test is subject to high school graduationstandards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 53A-1-603.
(6) (a) A student is exempt from the requirements of Subsection (2) if:
(i) the student is enrolled in the tenth grade during:
(A) the 2010-11 school year; or
(B) the 2011-12 school year; or
(ii) the student:
(A) was enrolled in the tenth grade during:
(I) the 2008-09 school year; or
(II) the 2009-10 school year; and
(B) did not pass the tenth grade basic skills competency test while the student was intenth grade.
(b) School districts and charter schools are exempt from administering the tenth gradebasic skills competency test during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school year.

Amended by Chapter 305, 2010 General Session
Amended by Chapter 395, 2010 General Session