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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to an interactive reading software.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ moves an authorization for an analytical software program out of a specific
13 appropriation allocation;
14 ▸ allows for the use of a specific appropriation allocation for administrative costs; and
15 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 53F-4-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 164, 186, and 324
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24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 53F-4-203 is amended to read:
26 53F-4-203. Early interactive reading software -- Independent evaluator.
27 (1) (a) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall select and contract
28 with one or more technology providers, through a request for proposals process, to provide
29 early interactive reading software for literacy instruction and assessments for students in
30 kindergarten through grade 3.
31 (b) By August 1 of each year, the state board shall distribute licenses for early
32 interactive reading software described in Subsection (1)(a) to the school districts and charter
33 schools of LEA governing boards that apply for the licenses.
34 (c) Except as provided in state board rule, a school district or charter school that
35 received a license described in Subsection (1)(b) during the prior year shall be given first
36 priority to receive an equivalent license during the current year.
37 (d) Licenses distributed to school districts and charter schools in addition to the
38 licenses described in Subsection (1)(c) shall be distributed through a competitive process.
39 (2) A public school that receives a license described in Subsection (1)(b) shall use the
40 license for a student in kindergarten or grade 1, 2, or 3:
41 (a) for intervention for the student if the student is reading below grade level; or
42 (b) for advancement beyond grade level for the student if the student is reading at or
43 above grade level.
44 (3) (a) On or before August 1 of each year, the state board shall select and contract with
45 an independent evaluator, through a request for proposals process, to act as an independent
46 contractor to evaluate early interactive reading software provided under this section.
47 (b) The state board shall ensure that a contract with an independent evaluator requires
48 the independent evaluator to:
49 (i) evaluate a student's learning gains as a result of using early interactive reading
50 software provided under Subsection (1);
51 (ii) for the evaluation under Subsection (3)(b)(i), use an assessment that is not
52 developed by a provider of early interactive reading software; and
53 (iii) determine the extent to which a public school uses the early interactive reading
54 software.
55 (c) The state board and the independent evaluator selected under Subsection (3)(a)
56 shall submit a report on the results of the evaluation in accordance with Section 53E-1-201.
57 (4) The state board may acquire an analytical software program that:
58 (a) monitors, for an individual school, early intervention interactive reading software
59 use and the associated impact on student performance; and
60 (b) analyzes the information gathered under Subsection (4)(a) to prescribe individual
61 school usage time to maximize the beneficial impact on student performance.
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63 Subsection (1)(a) [
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71 (b) for administrative costs associated with this section.