Introduction
The purpose of this document is to establish the statewide policy for the participation of students in the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students (U-PASS). The central elements of this policy are:
- Rules for inclusion in the statewide assessment program (U-PASS).
- Limited allowances for exempting or excusing students from assessments.
- Allowable accommodations for test administration and student responses.
Note: This policy will be reviewed each year, and revised as needed.
U-PASS serves as an accountability program and as a system for evaluating individual student performance at all grade levels, although grade 12 students participate on a limited basis. Assessment accommodations are allowed on all components of U-PASS, but they vary test by test, and according to students’ characteristics.
U-PASS Tests
Criterion-Referenced Tests
The Criterion-Referenced Tests are carefully aligned with the Utah State Core Curriculum in order to assess students’ knowledge of the state’s academic content standards.
Language Arts - Grades 2-11
Mathematics - Grade 2 through high school courses
Science - Grade 4 through high school courses
Language Arts Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs)
Students enrolled in grades 1-11 must take the language arts CRT for their grade level.
Math Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs)
Any student who is enrolled in a math class that is identified as a core course must take the related CRT. That is, students enrolled in Math 1-7 or pre-algebra, elementary algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra must take the CRTs.
Science Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs)
Any student who is enrolled in a science class that is identified as a core course must take the related CRT. That is, students enrolled in Science 4-8 or Earth systems science, biology, chemistry and physics must take the CRTs.
Direct Writing Assessment (DWA)
The Direct Writing Assessment is a test designed to assess students’ writing skills.
Writing - Grades 6 and 9
Utah Basic Skills Competency Test
The Utah Basic Skills Competency Test serves as the graduation exam for all students except students classified with severe cognitive disabilities.
Mathematics - Grades 10-12
Reading Comprehension - Grades 10-12
Writing - Grades 10-12
Utah Academic Language Proficiency Assessment
The Utah Academic Language Proficiency Assessment is administered to students with a primary home language other than English to assess English language proficiency.
Listening - Grades K-12
Speaking - Grades K-12
Reading - Grades K-12
Utah Academic Language Proficiency Assessment (UALPA)
Writing - Grades K -12
Utah’s Alternate Assessment
Utah’s Alternate Assessment is administered to students classified as having significant cognitive disabilities on an IEP who are not able to participate in other statewide assessments, even with test accommodations. These students should be exempted from the other U-PASS tests.
Language Arts - Grades 1-12
Math - Grades 1-12
Utah’s Alternate Assessment (UAA)
Science - Grades 4-12
Norm-Referenced Tests
Norm-referenced tests, the Iowa Tests, are administered in Utah to students in select grades.
A limited number of accommodations are allowed on the norm-referenced tests because the test administration conditions must match those of the national comparison group.
|
Time of Year
|
Test
|
Grade
|
|
Fall
|
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills
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3, 5 and 8
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|
Spring
|
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (only Reading section)
|
3
|
Full Participation in U-Pass
Both federal and state laws require that all students be administered assessments intended to hold schools accountable for the academic performance of students. These laws include state statutes that regulate the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students (U-Pass). The most prominent federal laws are the No Child LEft Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). ELL team mebers, Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members, and Section 504 team members must actively engage in a planning process that addresses:
All students are expected to participate in the state accountability system with only a few exceptions, as noted below. This principle of full participation includes ELL students, students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and students with a Section 504 plan.
Special Conditions that Warrant Exemption from Statewide Assessments
Any student may be excused from participation in statewide assessments in the event of a medical emergency where a student is suffering extreme distress, such as a medical or psychological crisis. The reason for the exemption must be documented in the student’s cumulative record. When a student is excused from an assessment, it is only for the immediate administration of the test. He/she should be included in the next administration of the test.
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