SB 39 amends Utah’s standards assessment laws for public schools. It expands the grade span for statewide testing in core subjects, requiring math and English language arts assessments in grades 3 through 10 after July 1, 2026, and science assessments in grades 4 through 10 after that date. Until then, the existing grade ranges remain in place. The bill also continues the requirement for writing assessments in at least grades 5 and 8, and it specifies that the statewide assessment system should be criterion-referenced, online, aligned to Utah core standards, and adaptable to personalized, competency-based learning.
The bill preserves the rule that student assessment scores generally may not be used to determine course grades or promotion to the next grade level, while allowing teachers to use scores to improve grades or demonstrate competency in a relevant course. It also maintains the parent review committee for assessment questions, consisting of 15 parents appointed by the state board, House speaker, and Senate president, with staggered four-year terms and no compensation. In addition, SB 39 repeals a separate statute governing high school assessments, consolidating the state’s testing framework into the amended standards assessment section.
Impact
SB 39 updates Utah Code sections 53E-4-303 and repeals 53E-4-304, changing the statutory structure for statewide student testing. The practical effect is to extend standardized testing into additional high school grade levels for math, English language arts, and science beginning July 1, 2026, while keeping the state board responsible for adopting and administering the assessments. School districts and charter schools remain required to administer the tests annually to students in the covered grades and subjects. The bill does not appropriate money and takes effect May 7, 2025.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received broad, bipartisan support throughout the legislative process. It passed Senate and House committee votes unanimously, cleared both chambers with overwhelming margins, and the Senate concurred with the House amendment without recorded opposition. The voting history suggests the measure was viewed as a routine or technical education policy update rather than a controversial change.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record, and no committee transcripts were provided showing debate. The main policy choice reflected in the bill is the expansion of statewide testing into grades 9 and 10 for core subjects after 2026, which could be of concern to those wary of increased testing burden, but no recorded opposition appears in the votes. The retention of the parent review committee and the removal of the separate high school assessments section suggest an effort to streamline and oversee testing rather than fundamentally alter accountability policy.