Students are learning more, teachers are providing better instruction and parents have a deeper understanding of their children's academic progress thanks to a pilot testing program that at least one school district is calling a success.

This past school year, the Sevier and Juab school districts piloted a state testing program recommended by the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel on Assessment in hopes of helping state leaders judge whether the program should go statewide. As part of that program, the districts dropped the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Utah Basic Skills Competency Test and instead gave computerized, adaptive tests to students several times a year and college preparation tests to students in some grades. Unlike typical state tests, the adaptive tests change in difficulty as students take them, adapting to each student's skill level.

With adaptive tests, results are available quickly, allowing teachers to understand a student's strengths and weaknesses during the school year. Now, state tests, called Criterion Referenced Tests, are given only once at the end of the year, and teachers and parents don't see results until after school ends.

"With [adaptive tests], we have time to do something about it. It's not too late," said Chad Johnson, a math and literacy coach with Pahvant Elementary School in Richfield.

Principals from across the district told State Board of Education members on Thursday that the tests, which Sevier gives three times a year, allow teachers to adjust instruction based on each student's skills. Ted Chappell, principal at Monroe Elementary School, said teachers also use the results to show parents graphs that chart their children's progress compared with students in other districts and nationwide.

"When we showed this to parents, we had some of them in tears," Chappell said. "This is very visual. It was very powerful."

During last year's special legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill allowing up to five school districts and five charter schools to drop the state's testing and accountability system in order to try this new one. The idea was to test the new system before deciding whether to use it statewide. It will be up to lawmakers to push for expansion of the program.

Critics of using adaptive tests statewide have said the tests might not provide the right types of information to schools. They also worry that students could spend more time testing than they do now because adaptive tests would likely be given three times a year. The federal government also denied Utah's request last year to use adaptive tests to fulfill the requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Still, state leaders say they're optimistic about the future of adaptive testing in Utah. Board chairwoman Debra Roberts said she'd favor seeing the tests spread statewide over time. Sevier district superintendent Brent Thorne recommended expanding the program by offering school districts incentives rather than mandates.

Next school year, the Millard School District, two elementary schools in the Alpine district, and the John Hancock Charter School and Summit Academy charter school will join the pilot.