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District updates graduation‑assessment policy language to accept out‑of‑district ACT scores; written test accommodations clarified
Summary
Board heard first reading of revisions to policy IKF to reflect HB 2540 allowing nationally recognized assessments administered outside the district to be submitted for graduation credit and clarifies when paper (written) tests are approved.
The board received a first reading Tuesday of proposed changes to policy IKF (graduation requirements) to implement provisions of House Bill 2540 and related Arizona statute, administration said. Cheryl Castro, director of curriculum and assessment, said the district will accept official score reports from nationally recognized assessments adopted by the State Board of Education — currently the ACT with writing — and must record and report those scores to state agencies when submitted by a student or the student’s parent or legal guardian.
Under the draft language, if a student submits an official score report before the district’s test date, the student may opt out of the district‑administered assessment and the district will use the submitted score for that student’s achievement data. Castro said the Arizona Department of Education confirmed the district may accept such outside scores and that the prior requirement for a minimum proficiency cutoff has been removed; there is currently no other state‑approved test for graduation except the ACT with writing.
The revisions also add a procedure for requests for written (paper) versions of state assessments. Castro said all state achievement tests are administered by computer by default, but a paper test may be approved only when required pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a Section 504 plan, for religious purposes, or at the request of a parent or legal guardian; every written‑test request must be submitted to ADE for approval.
Board members asked practical questions about how demographic (nontest indicator) data will be collected and whether opt‑outs of the district administration affect that information collection; staff explained demographic data is used in aggregate reports and subgroup analysis and that districts are not required to allow opt‑outs of nontest indicator collection. No action was taken; the item will return for a subsequent reading.
