Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 39 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Johnson, John D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• increases the grade range for certain subjects of the state selected standards assessment; and
• removes provisions requiring the use of a different assessment.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

11
53E-4-303
53E-4-304
0
Education Testing Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: John D. Johnson
House Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions relating to Utah standard assessments.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
increases the grade range for certain subjects of the state selected standards assessment; 
and
removes provisions requiring the use of a different assessment.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-4-303
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 129
REPEALS:
53E-4-304
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 186, 202
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53E-4-303
 is amended to read:
53E-4-303
. Utah standards assessments -- Administration -- Review committee.
(1)
As used in this section, "computer adaptive assessment" means an assessment that 
measures the range of a student's ability by adapting to the student's responses, selecting 
more difficult or less difficult questions based on the student's responses.
(2)
The state board shall:
(a)
adopt a standards assessment that:
(i)
measures a student's proficiency in:
(A)
mathematics for students in each of grades 3 through 8
 until July 1, 2026, and 
3 through 10 after July 1, 2026
;
(B)
English language arts for students in each of grades 3 through 8
 until July 1, 
2026, and 3 through 10 after July 1, 2026
;
(C)
science for students in each of grades 4 through 8
 until July 1, 2026, and 4 
through 10 after July 1, 2026
; and
(D)
writing for students in at least grades 5 and 8; and
(ii)
except for the writing measurement described in Subsection 
(2)(a)(i)(D)
, is a 
computer adaptive assessment; and
(b)
ensure that an assessment described in Subsection 
(2)(a)
 is:
(i)
a criterion referenced assessment;
(ii)
administered online;
(iii)
aligned with the core standards for Utah public schools; and
(iv)
adaptable to personalized, competency-based learning, as that term is defined in 
Section 
53F-5-501
.
(3)
A school district or charter school shall annually administer the standards assessment 
adopted by the state board under Subsection 
(2)
 to all students in the subjects and grade 
levels described in Subsection 
(2)
.
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection 
(4)(b)
, a student's score on the standards 
assessment adopted under Subsection 
(2)
 may not be considered in determining:
(i)
the student's academic grade for a course; or
(ii)
whether the student may advance to the next grade level.
(b)
A teacher may use a student's score on the standards assessment adopted under 
Subsection 
(2)
 to improve the student's academic grade for or demonstrate the 
student's competency within a relevant course.
(5)
(a)
The state board shall establish a committee consisting of 15 parents of Utah public 
education students to review all standards assessment questions.
(b)
The committee established in Subsection 
(5)(a)
 shall include the following parent 
members:
(i)
five members appointed by the chair of the state board;
(ii)
five members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives or the 
speaker's designee; and
(iii)
five members appointed by the president of the Senate or the president's designee.
(c)
The state board shall provide staff support to the parent committee.
(d)
The term of office of each member appointed in Subsection 
(5)(b)
 is four years.
(e)
The chair of the state board, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 
president of the Senate shall adjust the length of terms to stagger the terms of 
committee members so that approximately half of the committee members are 
appointed every two years.
(f)
No member may receive compensation or benefits for the member's service on the 
committee.
Section 2, 
Repealer.
High school assessments.
Section 3. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025
.
3-13-25 3:26 PM