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H.B. 447

             1     

KINDERGARTEN LITERACY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Johnny Anderson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill establishes a computer-based kindergarten literacy program.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    requires the State Board of Education to contract with an educational technology
             13      provider, selected through a request for proposals process, for a computer-based
             14      kindergarten literacy program;
             15          .    requires the computer-based kindergarten literacy software program:
             16              .    be made available to all kindergarten students;
             17              .    provide pre- and post-assessments;
             18              .    include instruction in the five domains of reading;
             19              .    be adaptive; and
             20              .    provide multiple remedial activities to struggling students;
             21          .    requires the contractor that receives the contract to:
             22              .    provide headsets to students;
             23              .    provide installation, training, and support; and
             24              .    provide certain reports;
             25          .    provides grants to school districts and charter schools to purchase and maintain
             26      computers for kindergarten classrooms to participate in the computer-based
             27      kindergarten literacy program; and


             28          .    requires the State Board of Education to report to the Education Interim Committee
             29      and the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
             30      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             31          This bill appropriates:
             32          .    to the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative
             33      Programs, as an ongoing appropriation for fiscal year 2011-12;
             34              .    $3,000,000 from the Education Fund; and
             35          .    to the Related to Basic Program, as an ongoing appropriation for fiscal year
             36      2011-12;
             37              .    $4,500,000 from the Education Fund.
             38      Other Special Clauses:
             39          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.
             40      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             41      ENACTS:
             42          53A-1a-1101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43          53A-1a-1102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             44          53A-1a-1103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          53A-1a-1104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46     
             47      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             48          Section 1. Section 53A-1a-1101 is enacted to read:
             49     
Part 11. Kindergarten Literacy Improvement Program

             50          53A-1a-1101. Definitions.
             51          As used in this part:
             52          (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
             53          (2) "Contractor" means the educational technology provider selected by the State Board
             54      of Education under Section 53A-1a-1102 .
             55          (3) "Program" means the Kindergarten Literacy Improvement Program created in
             56      Section 53A-1a-1102 , which is a computer-based literacy program.
             57          Section 2. Section 53A-1a-1102 is enacted to read:
             58          53A-1a-1102. Kindergarten Literacy Improvement Program.


             59          (1) The board shall contract with an educational technology provider, selected through
             60      a request for proposals process, for a computer-based literacy program for kindergarten
             61      students that meets the requirements of this section.
             62          (2) The program shall be made available to all kindergarten students in the state.
             63          (3) The program shall:
             64          (a) include software that has the capability to:
             65          (i) assess a student at the beginning and end of the program, and in an ongoing manner,
             66      to show progress;
             67          (ii) provide instruction in the five domains of reading as defined in Section
             68      53A-1-606.5 ;
             69          (iii) be adaptive, allowing a student to automatically progress to more challenging
             70      content; and
             71          (iv) provide multiple remedial activities when a student struggles;
             72          (b) include headsets for student use; and
             73          (c) provide the necessary networking hardware.
             74          (4) The contractor shall, at no additional cost:
             75          (a) provide on-site support within 24 hours;
             76          (b) electronically provide monthly reports to a school principal and school district
             77      designee;
             78          (c) provide the board with an annual report of pre- and post-assessment results; and
             79          (d) provide for installation of the program, initial and ongoing training, and other
             80      required support.
             81          Section 3. Section 53A-1a-1103 is enacted to read:
             82          53A-1a-1103. Computer hardware grants for participating schools in the
             83      Kindergarten Literacy Improvement Program -- School requirements.
             84          (1) A school district or charter school may apply to the board to receive a computer
             85      hardware grant to participate in the program.
             86          (2) From funds appropriated for computer hardware for the program, the board shall
             87      allocate an equal amount of money for each kindergarten classroom in a participating public
             88      school.
             89          (3) (a) For school year 2011-12, a school district or charter school shall use the money


             90      allocated in Subsection (2) to purchase computers for kindergarten classrooms in participating
             91      schools to be used primarily to operate the program described in Section 53A-1a-1102 .
             92          (b) For school year 2012-13 and for each subsequent school year, a school district or
             93      charter school may use the money allocated in Subsection (2) to:
             94          (i) purchase computers for grade one, grade two, or grade three classrooms, if the
             95      following conditions are met:
             96          (A) there is at least one computer for every five kindergarten students in a kindergarten
             97      classroom; and
             98          (B) kindergarten students, on average, are meeting the time requirements in Subsection
             99      (4)(c); or
             100          (ii) replace, upgrade, or maintain an existing computer purchased with program money
             101      in previous years.
             102          (4) A school district or charter school participating in the program shall:
             103          (a) annually conduct a pre- and post-kindergarten reading assessment for a
             104      kindergarten student participating in the program;
             105          (b) ensure that a kindergarten student who has the greatest need for literacy
             106      improvement, as determined by pre-assessments, is given priority in using the program;
             107          (c) ensure that kindergarten students, on average, spend at least 80 minutes per week
             108      utilizing the program; and
             109          (d) annually report to the board:
             110          (i) the number of students served by the program;
             111          (ii) the number of computers purchased with the money allocated in Subsection (2);
             112      and
             113          (iii) the results of the pre- and post-assessments in accordance with Subsection (4)(a).
             114          (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, and
             115      consistent with this part, the board shall make rules establishing application and reporting
             116      procedures necessary to administer this part.
             117          Section 4. Section 53A-1a-1104 is enacted to read:
             118          53A-1a-1104. Annual report.
             119          (1) The contractor and board shall annually report to the Public Education
             120      Appropriations Subcommittee and the Education Interim Committee:


             121          (a) the number of school districts, schools, and students participating in the program;
             122      and
             123          (b) the results of the assessments described in Subsections 53A-1a-1102 (3)(a)(i) and
             124      53A-1a-1103 (4)(a).
             125          (2) The assessment results described in Subsection (1)(b) shall be reported separately
             126      for:
             127          (a) students who are at high risk of not attaining proficiency in reading, as determined
             128      by the assessments given at the beginning of the program; and
             129          (b) students who at low risk of not attaining proficiency in reading, as determined by
             130      the assessments given at the beginning of the program.
             131          Section 5. Appropriation.
             132          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
             133      following sums of money are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated out of the
             134      funds or accounts indicated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30,
             135      2012. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2011-12.
             136      Item 1 To State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative Programs
             137          From Education Fund                            $3,000,000
             138          Schedule of Programs:
             139              Contracts and Grants                $3,000,000
             140      Item 2 To Related to Basic Program                
             141          From Education Fund                            $4,500,000
             142          Schedule of Programs:
             143              Computer Hardware for Kindergarten Literacy
             144              Improvement Program                $4,500,000
             145          Section 6. Effective date.
             146          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-28-11 9:26 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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