Section 329.488 - Nationally normed assessment; rules(1) The Department of Education shall contract with a nonprofit entity to administer a nationally normed assessment, in collaboration with the department, to all students in grade 10 who are enrolled in a public school. The purpose of the assessment is to predict the success of students on, and provide practice for students taking, college entrance exams.(2) The department shall base the selection of the contractor under subsection (1) of this section on all of the following criteria: (a) The contractor must be able to provide to the department statewide data containing the results of the assessment;(b) The contractor shall provide an assessment that: (A) Identifies students with high potential to excel in advanced placement (AP) or other honors courses based on a research-based correlation of scores on the grade 10 assessment to advanced placement examinations;(B) Examines students in mathematics, reading and writing; and(C) Provides results that can be used by Oregon's higher education institutions to recruit students to attend college;(c) The contractor must be able to supply schools with an item-by-item analysis of student performance on the assessment; and(d) The contractor must be able to make available to each student taking the assessment a free career assessment and online exploration of colleges and career opportunities.(3)(a) In lieu of using the contractor selected by the department under subsection (1) of this section, a school district may apply to the department for a waiver to allow the district to enter into a contract with a different nonprofit entity for the purpose of administering a nationally normed assessment to all students in grade 10 who are enrolled in the public schools operated by the district. The department shall grant the waiver if:(A) The district had entered into a contract with the entity for the 2007-2008 school year to administer a grade 10 assessment;(B) The entity, in coordination with the district, administered a grade 10 assessment during the 2007-2008 school year;(C) For the most recent school year in which the entity administered a grade 10 assessment, the entity met the criteria set forth in subsection (2) of this section as in effect for the school year in which the entity administered the assessment; and(D) The entity plans to meet the criteria set forth in subsection (2) of this section as in effect for the school year for which the school district seeks a waiver.(b) A waiver granted by the department under this subsection:(A) Is valid for one school year; and(B) May be renewed each school year.(c) The department shall reimburse a school district for the cost of assessments allowed under this subsection from funds available to the department under ORS 327.008 (13).(4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (3) of this section: (a) The department may, under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, waive the assessment for specific groups of students; and(b) Upon request from a student who is enrolled in a public school operated by a school district or the parent or guardian of the student, the school district shall waive the assessment for the student.Amended by 2023 Ch. 586, § 9, eff. 7/31/2023.Amended by 2015 Ch. 783, § 11, eff. 7/1/2015.Amended by 2015 Ch. 644, § 8, eff. 7/1/2015.Amended by 2015 Ch. 604, § 16, eff. 7/1/2015.Amended by 2014 Ch. 81, § 10, eff. 7/1/2014.Amended by 2013 Ch. 577, § 10, eff. 7/1/2013. 2007 c. 858, § 42; 2008 c. 20, § 1; 2011 c. 302, §§ 1, 2 329.488 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 329 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.