Utah House rejects pilot to let some districts substitute national norm‑referenced tests for RISE
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Summary
First Substitute HB234, a pilot allowing up to 25% of LEAs to opt into a national norm‑referenced summative test crosswalked into the state system, failed in the House 32–42 after sustained debate over whether norm‑referenced tests measure growth and can be compared across schools.
The Utah House on Feb. 11 voted down First Substitute HB234, a proposal to authorize a limited, opt‑in pilot allowing local education agencies to use a national norm‑referenced test in place of the statewide RISE/ASPIRE summative assessment.
Sponsor Representative Lisenby described the measure as a voluntary pilot that would allow 25% of LEAs in the first year to opt in, with costs borne by participating districts and a fiscal note listed as $0. "The bill directs that the board of education will work closely with the US Department of Education to ensure compliance," the sponsor said, and described crosswalking tools to ensure the national test maps into Utah's accountability system.
Opponents, including Representative Arthur (a classroom teacher), argued norm‑referenced tests are designed to compare students to national peers and are not the same as a criterion‑referenced end‑of‑year test tailored to Utah standards. Representative Karen Peterson said she contacted NWEA and was told the measure's growth component would not be peer reviewed in the way Utah's accountability requires, raising concerns about the pilot's suitability for measuring growth and for school‑level accountability under ESSA.
Supporters said the pilot would provide more timely, actionable data for teachers and could increase participation among parents who currently opt out of the state summative test. Representative Lisenby noted backing from charter school associations and stressed crosswalking would preserve comparability.
After debate and questions, the House voted and the substitute failed 32–42. The measure was sent to staff for filing.