A revised estimate from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) for the cost of achievement testing this fiscal year is $1.3 million more than the department has budgeted.

The department has not come up with any substantial options for addressing the projected shortfall.

The budget signed at the end of the session (Laws 2004, Chapter 277) provides ADE with $4.2 million more to administer the new AIMS-Dual Purpose Assessment (AIMS-DPA) in fiscal 2005, which began July 1, than the department received for achievement testing in fiscal 2004.

After the budget was signed, the department awarded the contract for the AIMS-DPA and, based on the new contract, has reworked its estimate to $5.5 million more than fiscal 2004.

Chairman Seeks Ways To Cut Testing Costs

In a memo to Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, Joint Legislative Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Burns, R-9, asked if the department could cut testing costs in any way, specifically by requiring school districts and charter schools to pay for optional test retakes for students who have already passed AIMS or postponing AIMS-DPA testing for grades four, six and seven until fiscal 2006, which starts July 1, 2005.

At the Aug. 17 JLBC meeting, Mr. Burns said the cost of students retaking the AIMS test merely to get a higher passing score should be borne by the student or the district.

“It’s a benefit to them, so let them pay for it,” he suggested.

Donna Lewis, ADE associate superintendent of accountability, said most of the retakes are because the student failed the test previously, not an attempt to score higher.

“We believe it’s a minimal number of students (seeking a higher score) and the cost savings would be minimal,” she said.

Of the 11th- and 12th-graders retested – 53,000 – it’s “a close match” to the number who didn’t pass an earlier test, Ms. Lewis said.

Combined, the optional and mandatory retests are estimated to cost about $790,000 for fiscal 2005, according to ADE estimates. Retests are mandatory for high school students who have not yet passed AIMS.

Ms. Lewis said the Board of Education policy allows five tests free of charge per student.

Lawmaker Suggests Fees For Retaking Test

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-18, said the state shouldn’t pay for any retesting. The onus, he said, lies on the students, because they did not put in enough effort to pass the test the first time.

“If you’re going to retake it, there ought to be a charge,” he said. “It has to do with effort.”

In a written reply to Mr. Burns, Mr. Horne said postponing AIMS-DPA for the grades four, six and seven will not save any money because the testing for those grades is funded by the federal government under No Child Left Behind.

Mr. Horne also wrote that ADE has no other substantial options to reduce the cost of achievement testing for fiscal 2005.

Steve Schimpp, JLBC assistant director, said ADE didn’t approve of any of the cost-cutting proposals suggested by JLBC or its staff.

“Basically, the department’s view is that none of the options is viable,” Mr. Schimpp told the committee.

He said the department is expected to file a supplemental request for the $1.3 million difference. —