DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
State Testing Reminders
The following are friendly reminders from the state’s testing ethics policy:
- “Utah LEAs and Licensed Utah educators may use a student’s score from a statewide assessment to improve the student’s academic grade for or demonstrate the student’s competency within a relevant course.”
- “Licensed Utah educators shall ensure that:
- “Students are not penalized who have been exempted from a statewide assessment
- “Students aren’t provided a nonacademic award for participating in or performing well on a statewide assessment
- “Students are provided an alternate learning activity if they are exempted by a parent from a statewide assessment.”
The following additional guidance may help address specific questions that arise from the part of the state’s testing ethics policy quoted above:
- Using a student’s score from a state assessment can only improve a student’s grade – not hurt it. However, points are awarded for those who meet goals or earn proficiency on the state assessment, students should either receive 100% of the points possible or be excused from the assignment.
- Educators may not use a student’s score on a state assessment to determine an overall grade for the course. It can be used, in conjunction with other evidence, to help determine a student’s overall grade.
- Educators may not assign participation points on students’ grades for taking a state assessment.
- The alternate learning activity for students whose parents have opted them out of taking the state assessment can be an alternate assessment. That said, using a student’s score on the alternate assessment or activity on a student’s grade can only improve the student’s grade – not hurt it.
- In addition, if the incentive is that a student who demonstrates proficiency on a state assessment means that they don’t have to take the class final exam, then students who have been opted out would also need two opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. For instance, if a student who was opted out demonstrated proficiency on the alternate assessment (administered while other students took the state assessment), then they wouldn’t have to take the class final exam.
Please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions.
