Sec 15-792.02. Board examination system; private contractor; duties

A. The state board of education shall select and enter into a five-year agreement with a private organization to operate and administer the board examination system prescribed in this article.

B. The private organization selected by the state board of education shall:

1. Identify, select and collaborate with a national organization that is devoted to issues concerning education and the economy and that is selected by the state board of education to provide technical services to develop and maintain an interstate system of approved board examination systems.

2. Provide data and other information to a national organization that is devoted to issues concerning education and the economy and that is selected by the state board of education to provide technical services the national organization deems necessary to set appropriate performance standards for the students in this state. The department of education shall provide data and other information to the private organization.

3. Conduct technical studies required by the state board of education to compare the scores on approved board examinations by the students in this state to scores on the Arizona instrument to measure standards test and other measures deemed necessary to ensure the efficacy of the approved board examinations. The private organization may contract with other entities that are selected by the state board of education for the purpose of conducting technical studies.

4. In cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education, solicit monies from all lawful private and public sources, including federal monies, to offset the costs of instruction provided to students under this article.

5. Exercise general supervision over the implementation of the approved board examination systems in this state for the duration of the five-year contract. These examination systems shall meet the following criteria:

(a) Appear on a list of approved board examination systems selected by the interstate compact.

(b) Be periodically evaluated to ensure alignment with internationally benchmarked standards selected by an interstate compact on board examination systems.

(c) Have common passing scores that are prescribed by an interstate compact on board examination systems and that are set to the level of skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college-level courses offered by community colleges in this state that count toward a degree or certificate without taking remedial or developmental coursework. The private organization, on approval of the state board of education and with input from representatives from school districts, charter schools, community colleges and universities in this state, shall designate two individuals to represent this state in an interstate compact on board examination systems to prescribe the common passing scores prescribed in this subdivision.

6. Prepare an annual report for the state board of education, which shall forward it to the legislature and the governor, on the progress made toward the goals established in this article and provide copies to the secretary of state. Participating schools and the department of education shall provide data to the private organization as needed in order to complete the annual report.

7. Identify, select and represent this state on the national governing body of an interstate compact on board examination systems, as approved by the state board of education, to enable states to collaborate in the following areas:

(a) The selection of board examination systems for use in those states.

(b) Providing technical assistance required to implement the board examination systems effectively in those states for the use of those examinations.

(c) Entering into contracts with board examination system providers or with a national organization that is devoted to issues concerning education and the economy to develop new or improved board examination systems.

8. Select this state's representatives in an interstate compact on board examination systems in accordance with policies prescribed by that interstate compact.

C. The state board of education shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section and shall select college and career ready examinations that are available to pupils in grade eight, including those pupils who intend to participate in the board examinations system in high school. The examinations shall be selected to provide data to pupils, their families and schools regarding the pupil's level of preparation for entry into a college and career ready pathway in high school.

D. Pursuant to rules adopted by the state board of education, the department of education shall develop a system to track the academic progress of pupils who participate in the board examination system.

E. All actions taken pursuant to this section shall comply with the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380), as amended.