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Policy EFB - Grading: Testing Procedures & Standards

Policy EFB - Grading: Testing Procedures & Standards (PDF)

Issue Date: October 21, 2020

Updated: January 18, 2023

Purpose of the Policy

The Board adopts this policy to provide specific standards and procedures to govern handling and administration of standardized tests. The Board has determined that compliance with this policy is an essential job function of all educators and failure to abide by this policy is grounds for adverse employment action including termination.

Administration of Statewide Assessments

The District shall administer statewide assessments to all students enrolled in the grade level or course to which the assessment applies, with the following exceptions:

1.   The student has been exempted under the procedures set forth in Policy EFBB.

2.   A student’s IEP team, English Learner team, or Section 504 accommodation plan team shall determine that student’s participation in statewide assessments consistent with the Utah Participation and Accommodations Policy.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-5(1) (July 22, 2022)       

District Statewide Assessment Plan

The District shall develop a plan to administer statewide assessments. After considering and making any appropriate changes, the plan shall be submitted to the State Superintendent by September 15 of each year.

The plan shall include:

1.   The dates that the District shall administer each statewide assessment;

2.   Professional development for an educator to fully implement the assessment system;

3.   Training for educators and appropriate paraprofessionals in the requirements of assessment administration ethics; and

4.   Training for educators and appropriate paraprofessionals in using statewide assessment results effectively to inform instruction.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-5(2), (3), (4) (July 22, 2022)      

Time Periods for Administering Statewide Assessments

A District educator, trained employee, or third-party proctor shall administer statewide assessments required under Utah Admin. Rule R277-404-5 consistent with the schedule established by the State Superintendent and the District’s assessment plan.

A District educator, trained employee, or third-party proctor shall complete all required assessment procedures before the end of the assessment window defined by the State Superintendent.

If the District requires an alternative schedule with assessment dates outside of the State Superintendent’s published schedule, it shall submit the alternative testing plan to the State Superintendent by September 1 annually. The plan shall set dates for assessment administration for courses taught face-to-face or online.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-4(3) (July 22, 2022)          

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-5(8), (9), (10) (July 22, 2022)    

District Assessment Training

District assessment staff will use the Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy in providing training for all assessment administrators and proctors. (This policy can be obtained online at https//www.schools.utah.gov/assessment or from the State Board of Education at 250 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.

At least once each school year, the District will provide professional development for all educators, administrators, and assessment administrators (including third party proctors) concerning guidelines and procedures for statewide assessment administration, including educator responsibility for assessment security and proper professional practices.

The District may not release state assessment data publicly until authorized to do so by the State Superintendent.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-5(5), (6), (7) (July 22, 2022)      

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-3 (July 22, 2022)

School Responsibilities

The District, school, or educator may not use a student’s score on a statewide assessment (or a student’s exemption from taking such an assessment) to prohibit a student from enrolling in an honors, advanced placement, or International Baccalaureate course.

The District and school shall require an educator and assessment administrator and proctor (including third party proctor) to individually sign the testing ethics signature page provided by the State Superintendent acknowledging or assuring that the educator administers assessments consistent with ethics and protocol requirements.

All educators and assessment administrators shall conduct assessment preparation, supervise assessment administration, and certify assessment results before providing results to the State Superintendent.

All educators and assessment administrators and proctors shall securely handle and return all protected assessment materials, where instructed, in strict accordance with the procedures and directions specified in assessment administration manuals, District rules and policies, and the Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-6 (July 22, 2022)            

District Employee Compliance with Assessment Requirements, Protocols, and Security

Teachers, administrators, and all District personnel shall not:

  1. Violate any specific assessment administrative procedure specified in the assessment administration manual, violate any state or District standardized assessment policy or procedure, or violate any procedure specified in the State Board testing ethics policy;
  2. Fail to administer a state required assessment;
  3. Fail to administer a state required assessment within the designated assessment window;
  4. Submit falsified data;
  5. Allow a student to copy, reproduce, or photograph an assessment item or component; or
  6. Knowingly do anything that would affect the security, validity, or reliability of standardized assessment scores of any individual student, class, or school.

A school employee or third party shall promptly report an assessment violation or irregularity to a building administrator, the District Superintendent, or the State Superintendent.

An educator who violates this rule or an assessment protocol is subject to Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission or Board disciplinary action consistent with Utah Admin. Rule R277-217.

All assessment material, questions, and student responses for required assessments are designated protected, consistent with Utah Code § 63G-2-305, until released by the State Superintendent.

The District shall ensure that all assessment content is secured so that only authorized personnel have access and that assessment materials are returned to the State Superintendent following testing, as required by the State Superintendent.

An individual educator or school employee may not retain or distribute test materials, in either paper or electronic form, for purposes inconsistent with ethical test administration or beyond the time period allowed for test administration.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-8 (July 22, 2022)

Reporting Assessment Results

UTREx data shall be updated using the processes and according to the schedules determined by the State Superintendent. The District shall ensure that any computer software for maintaining or submitting District data is compatible with data reporting requirements established in R277-484. The District shall ensure that all statewide assessment data have been collected and certify that the data are ready for accountability purposes no later than July 12. The District shall verify that it has satisfied all the requirements of the State Superintendent’s directions regarding data exchange and reporting requirements.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-404-9 (July 22, 2022)               

Referral to State Board for Violation

Any employee violating this policy shall be subject to adverse employment action, including, but not limited to, termination of employment, and any such educator shall be referred to the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission of the State Board of Education for possible disciplinary action.