Utah U-Pass Tests (continued)

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.

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:

• Assurance of the provision of accommodations to facilitate student access to grade-level instruction and state assessment

  1. Use of alternate assessments to assess the achievement of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

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.