MINUTES OF THE
EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 • 8:30 a.m. • 445 State Capitol


Members Present:
Rep. V. Lowry Snow, Chair
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Dan N. Johnson
Rep. Bradley G. Last
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. Lee B. Perry
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Stephanie Pitcher
Rep. Susan Pulsipher
Rep. Adam Robertson
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Mark A. Strong
Rep. Steve Waldrip

Members Absent:
Sen. Deidre M. Henderson, Chair
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Kathleen Riebe
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Staff Present:
Mr. Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Ms. Allyson R. Hicks, Policy Analyst
Mr. Michael E. Curtis, Associate General Counsel
Mr. Brent M. Gage, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair V. Lowry Snow called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.
1. Committee Business
2. Early Childhood Learning
Sydnee Dickson, Superintendent, Utah State Board of Education, introduced a panel to discuss best practices and effective programs for early childhood learning used by other states.
Dr. Parker Fawson, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education Endowed Chair, Director of the Center for the School of the Future, Utah State University Chair, discussed early indicators of numeracy and literacy in early education and the importance of students meeting proficiency levels by third grade.
Tracy Gruber, Director, Office of Child Care, Department of Workforce Services, presented data about children entering kindergarten.
2 - Utah's State of Pre-K Presentation
Sarah Wiebke, K-3 Literary Specialist, Utah State Board of Education, described three programs that the Utah State Board of Education hold for K-3 students.
Shannon Ference, Elementary Math Specialist, Utah State Board of Education, discussed a lack of numeracy programs and state assessment for math.
2 - USBE Early Learning Presentation June 2019
3. Compulsory Education, Truancy, and Chronic Absenteeism
3 - 2019 General Session H.B. 340 "School Absenteeism and Truancy Amendments"
Patty Norman, Deputy Superintendent of Student Achievement, Utah State Board of Education, described how chronic absenteeism affects student achievements.
Corby Eason, Student Support and Prevention Specialist, Utah State Board of Education, discussed how certain definitions of minors within statute causes confusion among LEAs when documenting absences.
3 - USBE Chronic Absenteeism Presentation June 2019
Scott Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Utah State Board of Education, discussed how data will be collected for the issue.
Neira Siaperas, Juvenile Court Administrator, presented on truancy referrals in Juvenile courts.
3 - Utah Juvenile Courts - Approach to Truancy Referrals
4. Other Items/Adjourn
MOTION: Rep. Lee B. Perry moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6.
Yeas - 13Nays-0Abs-6
Rep. M. Ballard
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. S. Pitcher
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Waldrip
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Henderson
Sen. L. Hillyard
Rep. V. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. C. Watkins
Chair Snow adjourned the meeting at 11:03 a.m.