This bill creates the Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Starting in July 2026, this bill creates a five-year Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program that allows school districts and charter schools to replace Utah's standard end-of-year statewide test with an alternative assessment in math, English language arts, and science — one that measures student achievement and growth against national norms rather than solely against Utah's own proficiency standards. The State Board of Education must select a qualified testing provider through a competitive procurement process, ensure alternative test scores can be converted to Utah's proficiency scale for school accountability purposes, and cap participation at no more than 10% of school district students and 35% of charter school students before 2029, expanding to 20% and 50% respectively after that. Participating school districts and charter schools must pay for the alternative assessment from their own budgets, administer it three times during the school year, give parents individual student results within 30 days of each test, and post aggregated school-wide results online within 60 days of the year-end test. The program is set to expire in 2031, and the State Board must evaluate it and report annually to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee on enrollment numbers, parent and teacher feedback, and recommendations for the program's future.
Current version: HB0234S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Jan 30
House Floor Vote
Feb 11
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeJan 30
House Floor VoteFeb 11
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
This bill creates the Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Starting in July 2026, this bill creates a five-year Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program that allows school districts and charter schools to replace Utah's standard end-of-year statewide test with an alternative assessment in math, English language arts, and science — one that measures student achievement and growth against national norms rather than solely against Utah's own proficiency standards. The State Board of Education must select a qualified testing provider through a competitive procurement process, ensure alternative test scores can be converted to Utah's proficiency scale for school accountability purposes, and cap participation at no more than 10% of school district students and 35% of charter school students before 2029, expanding to 20% and 50% respectively after that. Participating school districts and charter schools must pay for the alternative assessment from their own budgets, administer it three times during the school year, give parents individual student results within 30 days of each test, and post aggregated school-wide results online within 60 days of the year-end test. The program is set to expire in 2031, and the State Board must evaluate it and report annually to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee on enrollment numbers, parent and teacher feedback, and recommendations for the program's future.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
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House/ strike enacting clause
Clerk of the House
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Clerk of the House
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House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM