Download Zipped Introduced WP 8.0 HB0317.ZIP 5,522 Bytes
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 317

             1     

KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENT

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Loraine T. Pace

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; MAKING THE ASSESSMENT OF A
             6      KINDERGARTEN STUDENT'S READING AND NUMERIC SKILLS AT THE BEGINNING
             7      OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OPTIONAL RATHER THAN MANDATORY.
             8      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             10          53A-3-402.9, as enacted by Chapter 254, Laws of Utah 1997
             11      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             12          Section 1. Section 53A-3-402.9 is amended to read:
             13           53A-3-402.9. Assessment of emerging and early reading skills -- Resource provided
             14      by school districts.
             15          (1) The Legislature recognizes that well-developed reading skills help:
             16          (a) children to succeed in school, develop self esteem, and build positive relationships with
             17      others;
             18          (b) young adults to become independent learners; and
             19          (c) adults to become and remain productive members of a rapidly changing
             20      technology-based society.
             21          (2) (a) Therefore, as part of a kindergarten student's first student education plan, the
             22      student's parent or guardian, the student, and kindergarten personnel at the student's school [shall]
             23      may participate in an assessment of the student's reading and numeric skills.
             24          (b) The assessment [shall], if made, should take place no later than during the first two
             25      weeks of the school year.
             26          (c) The State Office of Education, in cooperation with the state's school districts, shall
             27      develop the assessment instrument and any additional materials needed to implement and


             28      supplement the assessment program.
             29          (3) The kindergarten student's teacher shall use the assessment in planning and developing
             30      an instructional program to meet the student's identified needs.
             31          (4) Based on the assessment under Subsection (2), the school shall provide the student's
             32      parent or guardian with appropriate resource materials to assist them at home in the student's
             33      literacy development.
             34          (5) The State Office of Education shall collect, review, and provide to school districts the
             35      assessment data generated under Subsection (2) in order to:
             36          (a) provide information to develop a personalized instructional program based on student
             37      needs;
             38          (b) improve teacher inservice and preservice programs related to teaching reading and
             39      numeric skills; and
             40          (c) evaluate the effectiveness of reading readiness for students entering the first grade.
             41          (6) In conjunction with the assessment program established under this section, school
             42      districts shall annually evaluate the need to use part of their Title 1 funds for preschool literacy
             43      programs.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-28-00 10:42 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]