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Board narrows statewide test-out options to assessments provided by superintendent
Summary
The committee revised rules to make statewide test-out assessments and portfolio demonstrations for core classes the exclusive responsibility of the superintendent (USBE); LEAs will proctor and cannot substitute locally developed options.
The Standards & Assessment Committee voted May 18 to amend rules so statewide test-out options for required core classes must be developed and provided by the superintendent, not created or altered by local education agencies.
Jennifer Wadsworth, policy adviser, explained the change responds to HB502 and feedback from LEAs that the draft needed to clarify who develops and controls the test-out options. Under the amended language the superintendent will provide test-out assessments and portfolio-based demonstrations of mastery used as exclusive means for students to earn credit without course enrollment in core classes; LEAs must administer and proctor the assessments according to uniform procedures and security protocols.
Megan Everett, director of teaching and learning, said the department will create the statewide test-out materials and academic-proficiency standards and that LEAs will be responsible for proctoring locally but not for creating alternative statewide options. Board members sought assurances the policy would not remove LEA flexibility for electives or other non-core credit pathways; staff clarified that existing LEA-level options for electives and course-based packets remain separate from the statewide core-class test-out option.
A motion to replace section 10 with new language making the statewide option explicit passed after debate. The committee then voted to forward R277404 (requirements for assessment of student achievement) as amended on first reading to the full board for second and final reading; the committee recorded a split vote (three in favor, one no, one abstention) on the motion to advance the rule.
