H.B. 63 Enrolled

READING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
1999 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Karen W. Morgan
AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
READING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH;
PROVIDING THAT THE CENTER ASSIST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN IDENTIFYING,
ASSESSING, AND PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR
STUDENTS WITH READING DIFFICULTIES; PROVIDING FOR A PROFESSIONAL
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; PROVIDING A $250,000 APPROPRIATION FOR
THE CENTER; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
ENACTS:
53A-3-402.10, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-3-402.10 is enacted to read:
53A-3-402.10. Reading Skills Development Center -- Purpose.
(1) The Legislature recognizes the critical importance of identifying, assessing, and
assisting students with reading difficulties at an early age in order for them to have successful and
productive school and life experiences.
(2) In order to help accomplish this, there is established a Reading Skills Development
Center, hereafter referred to as the "center", at the University of Utah to:
(a) assist school districts in detecting reading difficulties in students in the early grades;
and
(b) provide instructional intervention to enable the students to overcome their reading
difficulties.
(3) (a) The center shall assist school districts by providing expertise in the assessment of
reading difficulties and designing effective instructional interventions to overcome those
difficulties.

(b) The assessment and intervention programs shall focus primarily on grades one through
three in order to correct any detected difficulties by the end of the third grade, but assessment and
instructional intervention services shall be available to public education students of all ages.
(c) School districts may use the assessment and intervention programs on site at the center,
at the student's school, or by using interactive technology.
(4) (a) The center shall provide school districts with a professional development program
for reading endorsements that can be added to active elementary certificates.
(b) Each school district may allow its teachers to participate in the program through:
(i) programs taught on-site at local schools;
(ii) distance education with videotaped classes and on-site facilitators; and
(iii) interactive delivery by computers and video.
(c) Each school district may use this professional teacher development program in an effort
to place at least one reading specialist in each of its elementary schools.
(5) The center shall provide school district administrators, school administrators, and school
teachers with the most current research-based knowledge about reading and reading instruction
through nationally and internationally recognized reading researchers and instructional specialists.
Section 2. Appropriation.
(1) There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 1999-2000, $250,000 to the
University of Utah to help fund the activities of the Reading Skills Development Center at the
university.
(2) The money appropriated in Subsection (1) is nonlapsing.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act takes effect on July 1, 1999.


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