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H.B. 317
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KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENT
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2000 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Sponsor: Loraine T. Pace
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AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; MAKING THE ASSESSMENT OF A
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KINDERGARTEN STUDENT'S READING AND NUMERIC SKILLS AT THE BEGINNING
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OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OPTIONAL RATHER THAN MANDATORY.
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This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
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AMENDS:
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53A-3-402.9, as enacted by Chapter 254, Laws of Utah 1997
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1.
Section
53A-3-402.9
is amended to read:
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53A-3-402.9. Assessment of emerging and early reading skills -- Resource provided
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by school districts.
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(1) The Legislature recognizes that well-developed reading skills help:
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(a) children to succeed in school, develop self esteem, and build positive relationships with
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others;
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(b) young adults to become independent learners; and
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(c) adults to become and remain productive members of a rapidly changing
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technology-based society.
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(2) (a) Therefore, as part of a kindergarten student's first student education plan, the
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student's parent or guardian, the student, and kindergarten personnel at the student's school [shall]
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may participate in an assessment of the student's reading and numeric skills.
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(b) The assessment [shall], if made, should take place no later than during the first two
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weeks of the school year.
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(c) The State Office of Education, in cooperation with the state's school districts, shall
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develop the assessment instrument and any additional materials needed to implement and
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supplement the assessment program.
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(3) The kindergarten student's teacher shall use the assessment in planning and developing
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an instructional program to meet the student's identified needs.
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(4) Based on the assessment under Subsection (2), the school shall provide the student's
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parent or guardian with appropriate resource materials to assist them at home in the student's
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literacy development.
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(5) The State Office of Education shall collect, review, and provide to school districts the
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assessment data generated under Subsection (2) in order to:
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(a) provide information to develop a personalized instructional program based on student
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needs;
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(b) improve teacher inservice and preservice programs related to teaching reading and
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numeric skills; and
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(c) evaluate the effectiveness of reading readiness for students entering the first grade.
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(6) In conjunction with the assessment program established under this section, school
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districts shall annually evaluate the need to use part of their Title 1 funds for preschool literacy
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programs.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-28-00 10:42 AM
A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.