ITBS/ITED
The mandatory administration of a norm-referenced test
to Utah students in grades five (5), eight (8), and eleven (11) was
established by the Utah Legislature in 1990 as a critical 
element of
public school accountability. In 2000, the Utah Legislature passed a
bill that significantly expanded the assessment and evaluation of student
performance. Under this legislation, the Utah Performance Assessment
System for Students (U-PASS) was established. At that time, the administration
of a norm-referenced achievement
test was maintained for the previously established grade levels but
also the administration of a third grade- level test was added to the
requirements. Mandatory participation of all districts and schools was
continued.
The results from a norm-referenced test serve to provide a measure of
Utah public school performance in relation to a national norm group.
Utah also participates in the National Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP) with a sample of 2,000 students in grades four and eight. The
NAEP results also provide a means of comparison to the nation.
As a complement to the norm-referenced tests, which are administered
in the autumn, Utah student achievement is assessed in the spring by
the administration of criterion-referenced tests in mathematics, language
arts, and science. The Utah State Board of Education plans to continue
the NRT element of the U-PASS program of assessment as described here,
unless directed otherwise by the Utah Legislature.
The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills® or Iowa Tests of Educational Development®
will be administered to students in Utah public schools at grades three
(3), five (5), eight (8), and eleven (11).
ITBS and ITED were designed to measure, within an efficient administration
time, the broadest range of skills possible in a norm-referenced test.
A recent comparison of the number of items and working times on the
new version of ITBS with comparable nationally normed test batteries
has shown that these tests provide greater coverage of skill measurement
in a similar amount of testing time.
For complete IOWA instructions on materials and protocol
CLICK HERE
