Students take state Criterion Referenced Tests in May. From there the state grades the tests, puts the data together and then sends it back to the districts to "clean up" and approve in a 30-day review period. Then the reports are released to the public.

Lacey said that to have the reports ready before school starts, the state would have to be able to have the data turned around and to the districts by July 1.

Hales said turning around of the scores themselves is very quick — it's disaggregating and analyzing the data that takes time.

Judy Park, state associate superintendent, said another problem is that year-round schools take the tests even later, and state reviewers need all the data before they can start any analysis.

But each year the release dates for the reports have been a little quicker. This year the reports went out to the districts Aug. 15 and are set to be released statewide Sept. 15.

"It will continue to improve, based on electronic testing. The capacity to do online testing will facilitate a quicker turn-around of results," Park said.

Lacey said that historically, even in states that do have timely reports, not many students opt to transfer schools.

"Nationwide, availing themselves of that 'choice' opportunity is not something the majority of parents choose to do ... (school transfers) really hasn't been a big hit anywhere in the nation," Lacey said.

However, she did say that when schools are to the point that they must offer school choice, it's not always a big surprise, since they would have failed the previous year also to be on school improvement. So parents can at least somewhat prepare for transferring their students if they are interested in the option.

But even though Utah was nailed for noncompliance in last year's federal audit, along with more than a dozen other issues, Hales said the feds are aware of the difficulty the state has.

"When we have spoken with federal counterparts they have been accepting of effort that is being put forth here," Hales said.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com