Acadience

R277-406: Early Learning Program and Benchmark Assessments
Utah State Board of Education Administrative Rules

Title 53E-4-307.5: Mathematics Benchmark Assessment
Utah State Legislature

The Testing Window and Data Entry Window are the same for both Acadience Reading and Acadience Mathematics.

Contact

ACT

2021-2022 Testing Window

Please go to the ACT Registration Information for national test information.

Utah’s ACT Educator

State of Utah ACT State Testing
This website is created and maintained by ACT for Utah regarding the statewide ACT test administration of Grade 11 students.

Resources

ACT Accommodations and Supports Information

ACT Connections: Utah Core Standards and ACT Subtests

ACT Overview: Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) 

ACT New Testing Administrative/Coordinator Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

ACT Online Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

ACT High-Incidence Accommodations, Local Arrangements, and Accessibility Supports on the ACT® Test for State Testing and District Testing

Homeschooled Students and the ACT Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Olympus High School English Learner (EL) Accommodations Plan

Shmoop

Have questions about Shmoop? Need help with your account? Want to set up customized training for your school or Local Education Agency (LEA)? Contact Stephanie Weiss at theo@shmoop.com, West Coast Accounts Manager.

Shmoop: ACT and Plan Test Prep Tool
This web page has information regarding the online ACT prep tool provided by Shmoop for students and educators. Every high school student, teacher, counselor, and administrator in Utah now has free, unlimited, and secure access to the Shmoop ACT Prep Tool.

6 Steps

Utah ACT Test Prep

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Roskelley at scott.roskelley@schools.utah.gov and Kim Rathke at  kim.rathke@schools.utah.gov.

Civics

American Civics Education Initiative
Utah Education Network (UEN)

Special Education Laws, State Rules and Regulations
Utah State Board of Education Special Education Services 

If you have any questions, please contact Robert Austin at robert.austin@schools.utah.gov, Education Specialist at (801) 538-7575.

Kindergarten

Utah's Kindergarten Entry and Exit Profile (KEEP) is intended to inform various stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and leadership, on the academic and social-emotional development of entering and exiting kindergarten students. The information gained from the profile will be used to:

• provide insights into current levels of academic and social-emotional performance upon entry and exit of kindergarten,
• identify students in need of early intervention instruction and promote differentiated instruction for all students,
• analyze the effectiveness of programs, such as extended-day kindergarten and preschool,
• provide opportunities for data-informed decision-making and cost-benefit analysis of early learning initiatives,
• identify effective instructional practices or strategies for improving student achievement outcomes in a targeted manner, and
• understand the influence and impact of full-day kindergarten on at-risk students in both the short- and long-term.

Administrative Rule

R277-489: Kindergarten Entry and Exit Assessment. Enhanced Kindergarten Program
Utah State Board of Education Administrative Rules

Assessment Administration Windows

KEEP Entry

• 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first day of Kindergarten
• Data Entry due by September 30, 2021

KEEP Exit

• Last 4 weeks of school
• Data Entry due by June 15, 2022

Reports

Utah's 2020-2021 KEEP Report

Utah's 2019-2020 KEEP Report

Utah's 2018-2019 KEEP Report

Utah's 2017-2018 KEEP Report

Testing Materials

KEEP Entry

Utah's KEEP: Student Materials

Utah's KEEP Entry: Test Administration Manual

Utah KEEP Data Entry: Getting Started

KEEP Exit

Utah's KEEP: Student Materials

Utah's KEEP Exit: Test Administration Manual

KEEP Exit Additional Guidance Questions 7 and 13 Scoring

Alternate KEEP

Guide to the Kindergarten Entry and Exit Alternate Assessment (KEEPAA) For Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (SCD)

KEEP Alternate Assessment Literacy and Numeracy Rubric

KEEPAA (Presentation)

Resources

KEEP Cut Scores

Training Information

KEEP Trainings
YouTube

Self-directed Canvas Training

Enroll in KEEP Entry Training

Enroll in KEEP Exit Training

Contact

Teresa McEntire
Elementary English Language Arts Assessment Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7542 | E-mail

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as "the Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas.

Utah Overview
The Nation's Report Card

Report Card

2019

2019 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 4

2019 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 8

2019 Reading State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 4

2019 Reading State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 8

2017

2017 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 4

2017 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 8

2017 Reading State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 4

2017 Reading State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 8

2015

2015 Science State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 4

2015 Science State Snapshot Report: Utah Grade 8

Resources

An Overview of NAEP

NAEP 2019 Facts for Districts

NAEP 2019 Facts for Principals Grades 4-8 Mathematics, Reading

NAEP 2019 Facts for Principals Grades 4-8 Mathematics, Reading, Science

NAEP 2019 Facts for Principals Grade 12 Mathematics, Reading, Science

NAEP Data Tools

NAEP Questions Tool

Selecting Schools for Participation in State-Level NAEP

State Guide to NAEP Participation 2017

The Nation's Report Card and State Assessments

Contact

Angela Battaglia
Education Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7814 | E-mail

Pre-Kindergarten

Utah’s Pre-kindergarten Entry and Exit Profile (PEEP) is intended to inform various stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and leadership, on the academic and lifelong learning practices essential for entering and exiting pre-kindergarten students. The information gained from the profile will be used to:

• Provide insights into current levels of performance upon entry and exit of pre-kindergarten.
• Identify students who may need early intervention instruction and promote differentiated instruction for all students.
• Analyze the effectiveness of programs.
• Provide opportunities for data-informed decision-making and cost-benefit analysis of early learning initiatives.
• Identify effective instructional practices or strategies for improving student achievement outcomes in a targeted manner.
• Understand the influence and impact of pre-kindergarten in both the short- and long-term.

Legislation

Title 53E-4-314: School Readiness Assessment
Utah State Legislature

Assessment Administration Windows

PEEP Entry

• 4 weeks before to 4 weeks after the first day of pre-school
• Data Entry due by September 30, 2021

PEEP Exit

• Last 4 weeks of school
• Data Entry due by June 15, 2022

PEEP Entry

Utah's PEEP Entry: Student Materials

Utah's PEEP Entry: Test Administration Manual

Scoring Guidance for PEEP Question #5: Handwriting

Appendix B: Scoring Sheet

PEEP Exit

Utah's PEEP Exit: Student Materials

Utah's PEEP Exit: Test Administration Manual

Appendix B: Scoring Sheet

Alternate PEEP

Guide to the Pre-K Entry and Exit Alternate Assessment (PEEP) For Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (SCD)

PEEP Alternate Assessment

Reports

Utah's 2020-2021 PEEP Report

Resources

PEEP Administrator Data Gateway Guidance

PEEP Cut Scores

PEEP Trainings
YouTube

Self-directed Canvas Training

Enroll in PEEP Entry Training

Enroll in PEEP Exit Training

Contact

Teresa McEntire
Elementary English Language Arts Assessment Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7542 | E-mail

Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment (RISE)

The RISE assessment is a computer adaptive criterion referenced assessment system that includes summative tests for English Language Arts (ELAs), Mathematics, Science, and Writing. The summative tests are scheduled to be delivered to the following grades.

Utah RISE Portal

Training

RISE Trainings
YouTube

Contacts

Utah Aspire Plus

The Utah Aspire Plus assessment is a hybrid of ACT Aspire and Utah Core test items. It is a computer delivered, fixed form end-of-grade-level high school assessment for students in 9 and 10. Utah Aspire Plus includes four subtests: reading, English, mathematics, and science. Students receive predicted ACT score ranges for each subtest, as well as an overall predicted composite ACT score range. The assessment also provides proficiency scores for end-of-grade-level expectations for 9th and 10th grade students in English language arts, mathematics, and science.

Utah Aspire Plus Portal

Testing Window

The Utah Aspire Plus assessment window will be open from March 7, 2022 - May 13, 2022.

Resources

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards

Development and Scoring Guide: Understanding Your Data

Periodic Table of the Elements

Utah ACT Test Prep

Utah Aspire Act Plus | Spanish

Utah Aspire Act Plus Overview

Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Utah Aspire Plus Understanding Your Data

Utah Aspire Plus Infographic

Utah Aspire Plus Score Interpretation Guide for Educators

Utah Aspire Plus Score Interpretation Guide for Parents

Testing Times:

• English Tests: Grade 9 and Grade 10, 50 Operational and 9-10 Field Test Items: 45 Minutes
• Math Tests: Grade 9 and Grade 10, 40 Operational and 5 Field Test Items: 75 Minutes
• Reading Tests: Grade 9 and Grade 10, 35 Operational and 10 Field Test Items: 75 Minutes
• Science Tests: Grade 9 and Grade 10, 36 Operational and 4 Field Test Items: 60 Minutes

Tests cannot be divided into sections. Each test must be completed in one sitting (unless student has an IEP or 504 accommodation for stop-the-clock breaks or for securely extending the test over multiple days).

Please reference the website below to find more details about the test blueprints.

Additional Reporting Resources
Pearson Education, Utah Aspire Plus

Training

Utah Aspire Plus Trainings
YouTube

Additional information related to Utah Aspire Plus, including student, parent, and teacher resources will be added to this page as they become available.

Contacts

High School (HS) Core Benchmarks

Utah Core Standards Benchmarks for Grades 9-12

The Utah Core Standards Benchmark Assessments are a productivity tool for Utah teachers and students that focus on specific strands within the Utah Core Standards. The Benchmarks are testlets—typically between 8 and 15 items, depending on the content area—that are designed to give teachers and students an opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses with specific knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined in the Utah Core Standards.

Available Benchmarks

The following are available as part of the Utah Core Standards Benchmark Assessments:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth and Space Science
• Physics
• Reading Informational 
• Reading Informational 10
• Reading Literature 9
• Reading Literature 10
• Listening Comprehension 9
• Listening Comprehension 10
• Editing 9
• Editing 10
• Secondary Mathematics I
• Secondary Mathematics II
• Secondary Mathematics III

Resources

Utah Core Standards Benchmark
YouTube

How do I Administer the Utah Core Standards HS Benchmarks Remotely?

If you have any questions, please contact Aliese Fry at aliese.fry@schools.utah.gov or Kim Rathke at kim.rathke@schools.utah.gov.

WIDA

Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State (ACCESS)

Utah is a member state of the WIDA Consortium. WIDA advances academic language development and academic achievement for children and youth who are culturally and linguistically diverse through high quality WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards, assessments, research, and professional learning for educators. Utah uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener Online (Grades 1-12) identify English Learners (ELs). ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELLs) is given to all EL students during the annual testing window to measure proficiency and growth toward academic language proficiency in English.

All who administer WIDA assessments must be certified. To become certified to administer and score Utah WIDA assessments, test administrators must annually complete the WIDA online training course for the appropriate assessment and grade span and score 80% or higher on the end-of-module quiz.

ACCESS Testing Requirements

ACCESS for ELLs Online is Utah's online summative assessment of EL students. It is developed and maintained by WIDA.

This assessment is administered for a number of purposes:

• to measure individual students' progress in achieving proficiency in speaking, listening to, comprehending, reading, and writing academic English,
• to determine the success of language development programs in individual schools and school districts, and
• to fulfill federal requirements of The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015.

All EL students must be tested annually using the ACCESS assessment. When students earn a Proficiency Level of 5.0 or higher, they are considered fluent in English. Students are then re-designated to monitoring status for four years. Students are not required to take the ACCESS assessment during these four years of monitoring. The Local Education Agency (LEA) may use appropriate data, evaluation, and team-based problem solving to consider reclassifying the student as EL if, while in monitoring status, the student demonstrates consistent and continued need for increased language support services.

For students in grades 1 through 12, LEAs are required to give WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Summative Assessment. ACCESS Paper is allowable for students with specific needs (e.g. students with disabilities; recently arrived English Learners, such as immigrant and refugee students).

Students with significant cognitive disabilities who take Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)/Utah Alternate Assessment (UAA), Utah State Board of Education Special Education Assessment, are eligible for WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.

Students in Kindergarten are administered WIDA Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs.

Screener Testing Requirements

LEAs are required to administer a WIDA Screener to newly enrolled students who indicate on the home language survey that they speak any language other than English. Screener is available to LEAs all year; however, federal and state law requires that students must be administered Screener within 30 days of enrollment within the first month of school, and within 10 days of enrollment thereafter. Screener should only be administered once during a student's enrollment in Utah schools.

Students are eligible for EL services if they earn a score of 1-4.9 on Screener for grades K-12.

For students in grades 1 through 12, LEAs are required to give WIDA Screener Online. WIDA Screener Paper is allowable for students with specific needs (e.g. students with disabilities; recently arrived English Learners, such as immigrant and refugee students). Both Screener online and Screener Paper are provided by Utah State Board of Education at no cost to LEAs.

Students in Kindergarten are given the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten.

WIDA Measure of Developing English Language (MODEL) is also an acceptable tool for screening for grades K-12 that can be purchased by the LEA.

2021-2022 Test Dates

Screener: Available all year

ACCESS Testing Window: January 6, 2022 through March 11, 2022 (Extended by one week)

2021-2022 Professional Development and Training

Register through Massively Integrated Data Analytics System (MIDAS) using Course Number 60491.

The following trainings will be available in a hybrid or virtual setting:

• Teacher Leaders: Planning with the ELD Standards Framework
  
  • Webinar: April 5, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST)
  • In-person Workshop: April 19, 2022 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MST)
    • Hybrid Workshop (Webinar, Workshop, Online Resources)
    • This hybrid workshop is designed to support teacher leaders, coaches, and others who provide local professional development and support for using the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition, to plan instruction at the unit level.
    • Space is Limited
    • MIDAS Course 60491-4
• Nurturing Speaking Growth
  • Webinar 1: May 3, 2022 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (MST)
  • Webinar 2: May 10, 2022 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (MST)
    • Two-Part Webinar Series with one Self-Paced Module
      • This eWorkshop is designed to nurture students’ growth in speaking, by combining an exploration of the ACCESS for ELLs Speaking Test with teaching practices focused on student engagement and oral language development.
    • Space is Limited
    • MIDAS Course 60491-5

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do LEAs have to screen students arriving from another WIDA state and have previous WIDA ACCESS scores?
   1. Yes, students need to be screened in order to qualify for EL services in Utah.
2. If a student lived in Utah, moved out of state, then returned to a Utah school, do they need to be screened?
   1. Yes, if it has been more than 2 years.
   2. No, if it has less than 2 years.

3. If a student arrives in Utah from another WIDA state and reached a 5.0 or higher on their ACCESS test, do they need to be screened?
   1. Yes, to ensure they do or do not need EL services in Utah.

4. What Screener grade band should be used?
   1. Please see the Online Screener TAM pages 15-16 for guidance.

5. Will LEAs be required to purchase Kindergarten Screener kits?
   1. No, all materials are available in the WIDA Secure Portal for printing.  If LEAs want professionally printed materials on high quality paper, they will be responsible for purchasing those materials through the WIDA Store.

6. When can LEAs begin using the Kindergarten Screener?
   1. July 1 prior to the new school year

Resources

ACCESS for ELLs Year in Review October 2017 to October 2018

Utah English Language Learner Identification and Placement Guidance Document 2021-2022

Utah WIDA Website

WIDA Language Codes

WIDA Website

Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) - WIDA's scoring and materials handling contractor. All ACCESS testing materials are ordered through DRC, and all testing materials are subsequently returned to DRC for scoring.

WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS)

To request WIDA or DRC Accounts

WIDA Secure Portal Permissions:

• Test Administrators should contact LEA Test Coordinator for permissions.

WIDA DRC/AMS Permissions:

• Test Administrators should contact LEA Test Coordinator for permissions.

District Testing Coordinator Permissions:

• LEA Assessment Directors, Testing Coordinators, and Alternate Language Services (ALS) Directors should contact the below state assessment contacts for WIDA and WIDA AMS accounts and permissions.

Contact Us