Section 203 – Kindergartens — Establishment — Funding — Assessment.

• (1) Kindergartens are an integral part of the state’s public education system.

• (2)
  • (a) Each local school board shall provide kindergarten classes free of charge for kindergarten children residing within the district.
  • (b) Nothing in this Subsection (2):
    • (i) allows an LEA governing board to require a student to participate in a full-day kindergarten program;
    • (ii) modifies the non-compulsory status of kindergarten under Title 53G, Chapter 6, Part 2, Compulsory Education; or
    • (iii) requires a student who only attends a half day of kindergarten to participate in dual enrollment under Section 53G-6-702.

• (3) Kindergartens established under Subsection (2) shall receive state money under Title 53F, Public Education System — Funding.

• (4)
  • (a) The state board shall:
    • (i) develop and collect data from kindergarten entry and exit assessments; and
    • (ii) make rules regarding the administration of and reporting regarding the assessments.
  • (b) An LEA shall:
    • (i) administer the entry and exit assessments described in Subsection (4)(a) to each kindergarten student; and
    • (ii) report to the state board the results of the entry and exit assessments described in Subsection (4)(b)(i) in relation to each kindergarten student in the LEA.

• (5) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the state board shall require LEAs to report average daily membership for all kindergarten students who attend kindergarten on a schedule that is equivalent in length to the schedule for grades 1 through 3 with the October 1 data described in Section 53F-2-302.

Amended by Chapter 316, 2022 General Session