H.B. 67 Enrolled

CHILDREN'S READING SKILLS
1997 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: J. Brent Haymond
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF READING PROFICIENCY TESTING IN GRADES 1-6;
PROVIDING FOR A REMEDIATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE WITH DEFICIENT
READING SKILLS; PROVIDING FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF EARLY READING
AND NUMERIC SKILLS OF CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN;
PROVIDING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAKE AVAILABLE MATERIALS TO
PARENTS TO ASSIST THEM IN HELPING THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR
LITERACY DEVELOPMENT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
53A-1-606, as enacted by Chapter 267, Laws of Utah 1990
ENACTS:
53A-3-402.9, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-1-606 is amended to read:
53A-1-606. Conducting of testing programs.
(1) (a) Each local school board shall, in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board
of Education, conduct a testing program within the school district.
(b) (i) (A) The testing program in grades 1 through 6 shall determine whether the planned
instruction has resulted in the student's mastery of reading skills.
(B) As used in Subsection (1)(b)(i)(A), planned instruction shall include instructional
practices of:
(I) early and explicit teaching of phonetic decoding skills;
(II) continuous and frequent exposure to a wide range of quality literature;
(III) writing to foster and reinforce word recognition, language structure, and experience;

and
(IV) regular and adequate time to read a wide variety of materials across the curriculum.
(ii) If, through the testing, the school finds the student seriously deficient in one or more of
these basic skills, it shall provide remedial assistance to help the student overcome the deficiency
and attain reading proficiency appropriate to the student's age and ability.
(iii) The remediation program shall include a plan to bring the student up to the appropriate
reading level and an opportunity for parents to receive materials and guidance so that they will be
able to assist in the remediation process and support their students' progress toward literacy.
(2) Each board shall provide for district evaluation of the test results and use the evaluations
in setting goals and establishing programs for the district and schools within the district.
(3) The local board may also administer other tests.
Section 2. Section 53A-3-402.9 is enacted to read:
53A-3-402.9. Assessment of emerging and early reading skills -- Resource provided by
school districts.
(1) The Legislature recognizes that well-developed reading skills help:
(a) children to succeed in school, develop self esteem, and build positive relationships with
others;
(b) young adults to become independent learners; and
(c) adults to become and remain productive members of a rapidly changing
technology-based society.
(2) (a) Therefore, as part of a kindergarten student's first student education plan, the student's
parent or guardian, the student, and kindergarten personnel at the student's school shall participate
in an assessment of the student's reading and numeric skills.
(b) The assessment shall take place no later than during the first two weeks of the school
year.
(c) The State Office of Education, in cooperation with the state's school districts, shall
develop the assessment instrument and any additional materials needed to implement and
supplement the assessment program.

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(3) The kindergarten student's teacher shall use the assessment in planning and developing
an instructional program to meet the student's identified needs.
(4) Based on the assessment under Subsection (2), the school shall provide the student's
parent or guardian with appropriate resource materials to assist them at home in the student's literacy
development.
(5) The State Office of Education shall collect, review, and provide to school districts the
assessment data generated under Subsection (2) in order to:
(a) provide information to develop a personalized instructional program based on student
needs;
(b) improve teacher inservice and preservice programs related to teaching reading and
numeric skills; and
(c) evaluate the effectiveness of reading readiness for students entering the first grade.
(6) In conjunction with the assessment program established under this section, school
districts shall annually evaluate the need to use part of their Title 1 funds for preschool literacy
programs.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act takes effect on July 1, 1997.

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