The provisions of this bill require local boards of education to offer a free assessment of reading skills for each child three months prior to their entering kindergarten and first grade. The cost to local school districts of providing this service depends on the number of parents requesting assessments and the current level of reading support staff and resources in the districts. If a low number (20 percent) of parents requested services and districts reallocated $100,000 of existing resources, the costs may be as low as $600,000. If parents of all age-qualified children requested services and districts were unable or unwilling to shift resources the costs may be as high as $3,540,000. A participation estimate of 30 percent is probably more likely, as is a rate of resource reallocation of $250,000. This would cost the districts approximately $800,000. However, the actual fiscal impact is impossible to predict.

Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst

2/12/97 8:48:44 AM

[State of Utah Home Page |Legislature Home Page |Legislative Fiscal Analyst Home Page ]