1-26-10 | Lawmaker: Utah student testing needs changes| Provo Daily Herald

SALT LAKE CITY -- A bill is moving through the Legislature that could change the way tests are administered to Utah students.

If passed, Senate Bill 16 will remove some of the current requirements in the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students, extend the pilot assessment systems through July 1, 2015, and remove the cap on the number of schools that can participate in the pilot program.

It will also allow the use of online computer adaptive tests, which would change the current system from a static test to one that gets harder or easier based on how students answer the questions.

UPASS is achievement testing given to students in grades two through 12 in basic skills courses.

Bill sponsor Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said it's time for Utah to move into the 21st century. He said he has heard time and again that the system may be testing children too much.

By removing some of the requirements and improving the method of testing, students will get an "authentic assessment" of where they are.

The bill unanimously passed a second reading in the Senate and needs to be voted on one more time before going to the House for debate.

Greg Hudnall, director of student services for Provo School District, said he does not know the bill well but it could be a positive step.

Rather than just showing the students' level of achievement, he said, computer adaptive tests can show the weak points and what concepts students are struggling with.

"What it does is it adjusts to the student," he said.

Hudnall said many people are involved in analyzing student test scores in the district, and scores can be tracked down to the students' classroom. Knowing which particular concepts a group of students is struggling with can enable teachers and administrators to work with students to help them improve, he said.

Officials are always looking for better data from the tests in order to help the student, Hudnall said.

One of the complaints with standardized tests is that they show the national average for certain subjects and grade levels. While that information is important, Hudnall said, tests also need to show specific data that can help administrators get an "autopsy" of what children need.

The bill would extend a pilot time period for the testing, which Hudnall said he appreciates because it will help officials determine what actually works.

It is possible the changes could also save money, and Hudnall said he hopes any changes would save money while also providing more useful data.

"If it does work, then we're supportive."