First Substitute S.B. 148
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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to the UPSTART pilot project.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . modifies the definition of low income;
13 . requires the contractor to give priority to preschool children from low income
14 families and preschool children who are English language learners, if the number of
15 families who would like to participate in the program exceed the number of
16 participants funded by the legislative appropriation;
17 . requires the State Board of Education to issue a request for proposals for a
18 home-based educational technology program for preschool children that takes effect
19 upon the expiration of the pilot project, provided that the Legislature reauthorizes
20 and funds the program;
21 . extends the repeal date for the UPSTART pilot project; and
22 . makes technical amendments.
23 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:
28 AMENDS:
29 53A-1a-1001 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 397
30 53A-1a-1002 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 397
31 53A-1a-1004 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 397
32 63I-2-253 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 173 and 434
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34 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35 Section 1. Section 53A-1a-1001 is amended to read:
36 53A-1a-1001. Definitions.
37 As used in this part:
38 (1) "Contractor" means the educational technology provider selected by the State Board
39 of Education under Section 53A-1a-1002 .
40 (2) "Low income" means an income below [
41 guideline.
42 (3) "Preschool children" means children who are:
43 (a) age four or five; and
44 (b) have not entered kindergarten.
45 (4) "UPSTART" means the pilot project established by Section 53A-1a-1002 that uses
46 a home-based educational technology program to develop school readiness skills of preschool
47 children.
48 Section 2. Section 53A-1a-1002 is amended to read:
49 53A-1a-1002. UPSTART program to develop school readiness skills of preschool
50 children.
51 (1) UPSTART, a pilot project that uses a home-based educational technology program
52 to develop school readiness skills of preschool children, is established within the public
53 education system.
54 (2) UPSTART is created to:
55 (a) evaluate the effectiveness of giving preschool children access, at home, to
56 interactive individualized instruction delivered by computers and the Internet to prepare them
57 academically for success in school; and
58 (b) test the feasibility of scaling a home-based curriculum in reading, math, and science
59 delivered by computers and the Internet to all preschool children in Utah.
60 (3) The State Board of Education shall contract with an educational technology
61 provider, selected through a request for proposals process, for the delivery of a home-based
62 educational technology program for preschool children that meets the requirements of
63 Subsection (4).
64 (4) A home-based educational technology program for preschool children shall meet
65 the following standards:
66 (a) the contractor shall provide computer-assisted instruction for preschool children on
67 a home computer connected by the Internet to a centralized file storage facility;
68 (b) the contractor shall:
69 (i) provide technical support to families for the installation and operation of the
70 instructional software; and
71 (ii) provide for the installation of computer and Internet access in homes of low income
72 families that cannot afford the equipment and service;
73 (c) the contractor shall have the capability of doing the following through the Internet:
74 (i) communicating with parents;
75 (ii) updating the instructional software;
76 (iii) validating user access;
77 (iv) collecting usage data;
78 (v) storing research data; and
79 (vi) producing reports for parents, schools, and the Legislature;
80 (d) the program shall include the following components:
81 (i) computer-assisted, individualized instruction in reading, mathematics, and science;
82 (ii) a multisensory reading tutoring program; and
83 (iii) a validated computer adaptive reading test that does not require the presence of
84 trained adults to administer and is an accurate indicator of reading readiness of children who
85 cannot read;
86 (e) the contractor shall have the capability to quickly and efficiently modify, improve,
87 and support the product;
88 (f) the contractor shall work in cooperation with school district personnel who will
89 provide administrative and technical support of the program as provided in Section
90 53A-1a-1003 ;
91 (g) the contractor shall solicit families to participate in the program as provided in
92 Section 53A-1a-1004 ; and
93 (h) in implementing the home-based educational technology program, the contractor
94 shall seek the advise and expertise of early childhood education professionals within the Utah
95 System of Higher Education on issues such as:
96 (i) soliciting families to participate in the program;
97 (ii) providing training to families; and
98 (iii) motivating families to regularly use the instructional software.
99 (5) The contract shall provide funding for a home-based educational technology
100 program for preschool children for one year with an option to extend the contract for additional
101 years or to expand the program to a greater number of preschool children, subject to the
102 appropriation of money by the Legislature for UPSTART.
103 (6) (a) The State Board of Education shall issue a request for proposals for a
104 home-based educational technology program for preschool children that takes effect upon the
105 expiration of the pilot project on July 1, 2019, provided that the Legislature reauthorizes and
106 funds the program.
107 (b) The State Board of Education shall evaluate a proposal based on:
108 (i) whether the home-based educational technology program meets the standards
109 specified in Subsection 53A-1a-1002 (4);
110 (ii) the results of an independent evaluation of the home-based educational technology
111 program;
112 (iii) the experience of the home-based educational technology program provider; and
113 (iv) the per pupil cost of the home-based educational technology program.
114 Section 3. Section 53A-1a-1004 is amended to read:
115 53A-1a-1004. Family participation in UPSTART.
116 (1) The contractor shall solicit families to participate in UPSTART through a public
117 information campaign and referrals from participating school districts.
118 (2) (a) Preschool children who participate in UPSTART shall:
119 (i) be from families with diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds; and
120 (ii) reside in different regions of the state in both urban and rural areas.
121 (b) (i) If the number of families who would like to participate in UPSTART exceeds
122 the number of participants funded by the legislative appropriation, the contractor shall give
123 priority to preschool children from low income families and preschool children who are
124 English language learners.
125 (ii) At least 30% of the preschool children who participate in UPSTART shall be from
126 low income families.
127 (3) A low income family that cannot afford a computer and Internet service to operate
128 the instructional software may obtain a computer and peripheral equipment on loan and receive
129 free Internet service for the duration of the family's participation in the pilot project.
130 (4) (a) The contractor shall make the home-based educational technology program
131 available to families at [
132 and the contractor if the number of families who would like to participate in UPSTART
133 exceeds the number of participants funded by the legislative appropriation.
134 (b) The State Board of Education and the contractor shall annually post on their
135 websites information on purchasing a home-based educational technology program as provided
136 in Subsection (4)(a).
137 Section 4. Section 63I-2-253 is amended to read:
138 63I-2-253. Repeal dates -- Titles 53, 53A, and 53B.
139 (1) Section 53A-1-402.7 is repealed July 1, 2014.
140 (2) Section 53A-1-403.5 is repealed July 1, 2017.
141 (3) Section 53A-1-411 is repealed July 1, 2016.
142 [
143 [
144 [
145 [
146 repealed July 1, 2017.
147 [
148 [
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