The current emphasis on assessment in the public schools has been driven by the necessity for students to leave high school with the skills required to complete in a global economy. Across the nation, this has led to the development of standards-based accountability systems in which curriculum goals are set for students learning at each level and student assessments are aligned with those goals. During the 2000 General Session, the State Legislature enacted H.B. 177, which created the assessment system called Utah Performance Assessment System for Students (U-PASS). The development of this system has made Utah a national leader in the assessment arena... [more] Your interest, support, and encouragement are vital to your child's educational success. What can you do to best help prepare your child for achievement in school as well as on assessments?

1. Instill a positive attitude about education in your child. Approach school as your child's job; approach learning as a valuable and exciting lifelong process.
2. Support your child's teacher and become an active partner in the educational process. Check for homework, encourage home reading, and celebrate your child's accomplishments at conference time.
3. Express confidence in your child's ability to do well and recognize that success means doing one's best.
4. Provide a constructive study climate at home.
5. Encourage good attendance and punctuality, particularly on testing dates.
6. Keep informed! For educational resources, specific test preparation suggestions, and other helpful information, ask your child's teacher and/or visit the Utah State Office of Education.