First Substitute H.B. 67

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CHILDREN'S READING SKILLS
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: J. Brent Haymond
5 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR THE
6 ADMINISTRATION OF READING PROFICIENCY TESTING IN GRADES 1-6;
7 PROVIDING FOR A REMEDIATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE WITH DEFICIENT
8 READING SKILLS; PROVIDING FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF EARLY READING AND
9 NUMERIC SKILLS OF CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN; PROVIDING THAT
10 SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAKE AVAILABLE MATERIALS TO PARENTS TO ASSIST
11 THEM IN HELPING THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT; AND
12 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
13 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
14 AMENDS:
15 53A-1-606, as enacted by Chapter 267, Laws of Utah 1990
16 ENACTS:
17 53A-3-402.9, Utah Code Annotated 1953
18 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
19 Section 1. Section 53A-1-606 is amended to read:
20 53A-1-606. Conducting of testing programs.
21 (1) (a) Each local school board shall, in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board
22 of Education, conduct a testing program within the school district.
23 (b) (i) The testing program in grades 1 through 6 shall include use of the reading and
24 language arts core standards and criterion reference assessments to assess each student's reading
25 ability in the spring of each year.
26 (ii) If, through the testing, the school finds the student seriously deficient in one or more
27 of these basic skills, it shall provide remedial assistance to help the student overcome the

1 deficiency and attain reading proficiency appropriate to the student's age and ability.
2 (iii) The remediation program shall include a plan to bring the student up to the
3 appropriate reading level and an opportunity for parents to receive materials and guidance so that
4 they will be able to assist in the remediation process and support their students' progress toward
5 literacy.
6 (2) Each board shall provide for district evaluation of the test results and use the
7 evaluations in setting goals and establishing programs for the district and schools within the
8 district.
9 (3) The local board may also administer other tests.
10 Section 2. Section 53A-3-402.9 is enacted to read:
11 53A-3-402.9. Assessment of emerging and early reading skills -- Resource provided
12 by school districts.
13 (1) The Legislature recognizes that well-developed reading skills help:
14 (a) children to succeed in school, develop self esteem, and build positive relationships with
15 others;
16 (b) young adults to become independent learners; and
17 (c) adults to become and remain productive members of a rapidly changing
18 technology-based society.
19 (2) (a) Therefore, as part of a kindergarten student's first student education plan, the
20 student's parent or guardian, the student, and kindergarten personnel at the student's school shall
21 participate in an assessment of the student's reading and numeric skills.
22 (b) The assessment shall take place no later than during the first two weeks of the school
23 year.
24 (c) The State Office of Education, in cooperation with the state's school districts shall
25 develop the assessment instrument and any additional materials needed to implement and
26 supplement the assessment program.
27 (3) The kindergarten student's teacher shall use the assessment in planning and developing
28 an instructional program to meet the student's identified needs.
29 (4) Based on the assessment under Subsection (2), the school shall provide the student's
30 parent or guardian with appropriate resource materials to assist them at home in the student's
31 literacy development.

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1 (5) The State Office of Education shall collect, review, and provide to school districts the
2 assessment data generated under Subsection (2) in order to:
3 (a) provide information to develop a personalized instructional program based on student
4 needs;
5 (b) improve teacher inservice and preservice programs related to teaching reading and
6 numeric skills; and
7 (c) evaluate the effectiveness of reading readiness for students entering the first grade.
8 (6) In conjunction with the assessment program established under this section, school
9 districts shall annually evaluate the need to use part of their Title 1 funds for preschool literacy
10 programs.
11 Section 3. Effective date.
12 This act takes effect on July 1, 1997.

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