§ 33-1806 — READING AND LITERACY ASSESSMENT

(1) The state department of education shall be responsible for administration of all assessment efforts and shall train LEA-level assessment personnel and report results.
(2) In continuing recognition of the critical importance of reading skills, all public school students in kindergarten through grade 3 shall have their reading skills assessed. For purposes of this assessment, the Idaho comprehensive literacy plan shall be the reference document. The kindergarten assessment shall include reading readiness and phonological awareness. Grades 1, 2, and 3 shall test for fluency, comprehension, and accuracy of the student’s reading. The assessment shall be by a single statewide test specified by the state board of education, and the state department of education shall ensure that testing shall take place no fewer than two (2) times per year in the relevant grades. Additional assessments may be administered to students who are identified for reading interventions as set forth in section 33-1805, Idaho Code. The state K-3 assessment test results shall be reviewed by school personnel for the purpose of providing necessary interventions to sustain or improve the students’ reading skills. Results shall show for each school building with kindergarten through grade 3 in each school district and charter school the percentage of students who are achieving proficiency on the statewide reading assessment. Such results shall be maintained and compiled by the state department of education and shall be reported annually to the public through the state education dashboard and reported to the state board of education, the legislature, and the governor in a consistent manner, by school and by district.
(3) The assessment scores and interventions recommended and implemented shall be maintained in the permanent record of each student.
(4) The administration of the state K-3 assessments is to be done in the local school districts by individuals chosen by the district other than the regular classroom teacher. All those who administer the assessments shall be trained by the state department of education.
(5) It is the legislature’s intent that curricular materials utilized by school districts for kindergarten through grade 3 shall be tied to evidence-based best practices and aligned with the Idaho comprehensive literacy plan.

Legislative History

[33-1806, added 2021, ch. 292, sec. 5, p. 877.]