§ 35A-15-303 — Evaluation -- Tools -- Reporting.

(1) The school readiness team shall conduct the ongoing review and evaluation each school year of:
(1)(a) a grant recipient under Section 35A-15-301; and
(1)(b) a grant recipient under Section 35A-15-302.
(2) (2)(a) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, the state board may enter into a contract with an evaluator to assist with the evaluation process.
(2)(b) An evaluation described in Subsection (1) shall include:
(2)(b)(i) outcomes of onsite observations utilizing the tools developed under Subsection (4) at a frequency and number of classrooms visits established by the department, in consultation with the school readiness team;
(2)(b)(ii) performance on the performance outcome measures;
(2)(b)(iii) whether any of the programs improved kindergarten readiness through funding provided under Section 35A-15-301 or 35A-15-302; and
(2)(b)(iv) student demographic data.
(3) The school readiness team shall determine whether there is a correlation between the tools and the performance outcome measure.
(4) (4)(a) The school readiness team shall:
(4)(a)(i) develop tools to determine whether a school readiness program is a high quality school readiness program;
(4)(a)(ii) establish how to apply the tools to make a determination described in this Subsection (4);
(4)(a)(iii) establish how the school readiness team will assess performance outcome measures; and
(4)(a)(iv) adopt benchmarks for success on the performance outcome measures for a grant recipient under this section.
(4)(b) The department, in consultation with the school readiness team, may adopt rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, for purposes of this Subsection (4).
(5) (5)(a) A grant recipient that receives a grant award under Section 35A-15-302 shall annually submit to the school readiness team:
(5)(a)(i) the number of students served by the preschool, including:
(5)(a)(i)(A) the number of students who are eligible students; and
(5)(a)(i)(B) the student's demographic area;
(5)(a)(ii) student attendance;
(5)(a)(iii) the cost per student; and
(5)(a)(iv) assessment results, including the school readiness assessment, and other assessments as determined by the school readiness team.
(5)(b) The assessment results under Subsection (5)(a)(iv) shall include:
(5)(b)(i) student data assessment data and growth scores; and
(5)(b)(ii) the observation tool score.
(5)(c) If a student growth or observation score is below the benchmark for success established by the school readiness team, the grant recipient shall:
(5)(c)(i) after the first year of not meeting the established benchmark:
(5)(c)(i)(A) develop an action plan informed by a data analysis to inform focus improvement efforts; and
(5)(c)(i)(B) submit a mid-year report on the progress of improvement efforts to the school readiness team; and
(5)(c)(ii) after the second year of not meeting the established benchmark:
(5)(c)(ii)(A) develop an action plan informed by a data analysis to inform focus improvement efforts; and
(5)(c)(ii)(B) submit a monthly report on the progress of improvement efforts to the school readiness team.
(5)(d) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the department, in consultation with the school readiness team, may adopt rules to establish eligibility criteria and grant funding priority for a grant recipient who, after three consecutive years, fails to meet the benchmark for success described in Subsection (5)(c).

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 525, 2024 General Session