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Senate approves ACT as statewide college-and-career readiness measure, sponsor cites lower fiscal cost
Summary
SB 10 moves Utah to the ACT for measuring college and career readiness (administration in grades 8, 10 and 11). Sponsor said the bill requested $2.2 million but the fiscal analyst estimated a $700,000 cost using existing funding; the Senate approved the bill and forwarded it to the House.
Senator Margaret Dayton introduced SB 10 to adopt the ACT as the statewide measure of college and career readiness for high school students, replacing the previously used Ubiscuit test. "It uses the ACT as a measurement," Dayton said, adding the measure will include testing in eighth, tenth and eleventh grades and will be administered to all high-school students in the state.
Senator Morgan voiced strong support, noting the bill had been studied by committee and would provide a consistent readiness metric. Senator Osman also expressed support and flagged forthcoming companion bills to reinforce adaptive testing and prescriptive learning use.
Dayton noted the fiscal note language on the floor: "This bill requests $2,200,000 to pay for the ACT test. However, the brainiacs in our fiscal analyst office have ... figured out that this bill will not be costing $2,200,000 ... and will be only a cost of $700,000. That's what the current fiscal note is." Dayton moved final passage, and a roll-call vote recorded 28 yeas, 0 nays and 1 absence. SB 10 passed and will be forwarded to the House for their action.
Floor discussion focused on committee study and funding mechanics; senators asked staff to note fiscal notes on the calendar and explained how fiscal notes affect House consideration and budget timing.
