Utah’s ninth and tenth graders could soon be taking the state’s standardized test, called RISE, as a draft bill looks to expand the requirement from grades 3-8 to include high school freshmen and sophomores.
Members of the Education Interim Committee discussed the proposed legislation Wednesday, noting the change was requested by several district administrators across the state.
The move comes as the latest statewide assessment results for the 2023-24 school year showed ninth and 10th graders are falling behind in several subjects, with proficiency levels declining further than the initial drop seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For instance, in math, the percentage of ninth and 10th graders deemed proficient fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 31.5% last year.
In the same period, English language arts proficiency in these grades slipped from 46.8% in 2021 to 42.2% last year.
Currently, each spring, Utah students take one of two statewide assessments depending on their grade level.
Students in grades 3-8 take the RISE (Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment) test, which assesses proficiency in English language arts, math and science. However, third graders are not tested in science.
Prior to the 2018-19 school year, grades 3-10 took the state’s standardized test, then called SAGE. However, when the state’s contract with SAGE ended, lawmakers decided to implement separate assessments for grades 3-8 and 9-10.
That’s why students in grades 9 and 10 now take a test called Utah Aspire Plus, which assesses the same subjects as RISE but is also used to prepare students for the ACT college entrance exam.
But participation rates for Utah Aspire Plus have been declining ever since it was implemented, according to the Utah State Board of Education’s 2025 Statutory Change Request. In 2024, only 81% of Utah’s 10th grade students participated in the assessment, the document noted.
The document states that administrators have raised concerns about using a “grade-based” assessment for ninth and 10th grades and have been advocating for a return to the state’s previous model.
Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Salt Lake City, said Wednesday that lawmakers introduced a separate assessment for ninth and 10th graders because they were concerned Utah’s standardized test wasn’t adequately preparing students for the ACT college entrance exam, which is administered in 11th grade.
“This [draft bill] doesn’t change a district’s ability to do something with college readiness,” Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Riverton, explained. “We’re just extending USBE’s ability to take this from up to eighth grade, to up to 10th grade.”
