Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0568 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	02-28 09:06 H.B. 568
2	2	1
3	3	Half-day Kindergarten Amendments
4	4	2025 GENERAL SESSION
5	5	STATE OF UTAH
6	6	Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci
7	7	Senate Sponsor:
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9	9
10	10	3
11	11	LONG TITLE
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13	13	General Description:
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15	15	This bill requires local education agencies (LEAs) to provide a half-day kindergarten class
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17	17	in each school.
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19	19	Highlighted Provisions:
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21	21	This bill:
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23	23	▸ requires LEAs to provide a half-day kindergarten class in each school;
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25	25	▸ removes language related to a requirement to only provide a half-day class within the
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27	27	LEA and upon parental request;
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29	29	▸ allows the LEA governing board certain discretion if half-day enrollment is lower than a
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31	31	given threshold; and
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33	33	▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
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35	35	Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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37	37	None
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39	39	Other Special Clauses:
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41	41	This bill provides a special effective date.
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43	43	Utah Code Sections Affected:
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45	45	AMENDS:
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47	47	53G-7-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 354
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49	49
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51	51	Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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53	53	Section 1. Section 53G-7-203 is amended to read:
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55	55	53G-7-203 . Kindergartens -- Establishment -- Funding -- Assessment.
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57	57	(1) Kindergartens are an integral part of the state's public education system.
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59	59	(2)(a) Each LEA governing board shall provide kindergarten classes free of charge for
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61	61	kindergarten children residing within the district or attending the charter school.
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63	63	(b) Each LEA governing board shall:
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65	65	(i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), at each school and for each enrolled
66	66	H.B. 568 H.B. 568 02-28 09:06
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68	68	kindergarten student who chooses to participate in half-day kindergarten, provide
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70	70	a half-day kindergarten [option for a student] class that comprises the minimum
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72	72	standards for half-day kindergarten that the state board establishes[, in accordance
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74	74	with Subsection (4)(a)(iii), if the student's parent requests a half-day option]; and
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76	76	(ii)(A) inform parents of the availability of the option to register for a designated
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78	78	full-curriculum, half-day kindergarten option at the time of all kindergarten
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80	80	registration, by email, posters, or other announcements when a parent requests
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82	82	kindergarten registration; and
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84	84	(B) provide the option to register for a designated full-curriculum, half-day
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86	86	kindergarten [option] class at the time of registration;
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88	88	[(iii) provide a dedicated kindergarten class specifically designated as a half-day
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90	90	kindergarten class when enrollment of half-day kindergarten students at an
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92	92	individual school or a regional school exceeds a minimum of 18 students;]
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94	94	[(iv)] (iii) when enrollment of half-day kindergarten students at an individual school
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96	96	exceeds a minimum of 18 students, designate the school as a half-day
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98	98	kindergarten provider for the improvement of recruiting teachers that prefer
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100	100	half-day teaching;
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102	102	[(v)] (iv) inform parents regarding the additional educational resources and
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104	104	opportunities available to parents who select the half-day kindergarten [option]
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106	106	class; and
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108	108	[(vi)] (v) ensure that a half-day kindergarten student who is registered in a class that
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110	110	includes full-day kindergarten students receives instruction that at least meets the
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112	112	minimum standards for half-day kindergarten that the state board establishes[, in
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114	114	accordance with Subsection (4)(a)(iii)].
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116	116	(c) An LEA governing board may, at the LEA governing board's discretion, move
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118	118	students who requested a half-day kindergarten class at an individual school into a
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120	120	full-day kindergarten class at the school when enrollment of half-day kindergarten
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122	122	students at the school is below 18 students.
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124	124	[(c)] (d) Nothing in this Subsection (2):
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126	126	(i) allows an LEA governing board to require a student to participate in a full-day
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128	128	kindergarten program;
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130	130	(ii) modifies the non-compulsory status of kindergarten under [Title 53G, ]Chapter 6,
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132	132	Part 2, Compulsory Education; or
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134	134	(iii) requires a student who only attends a half day of kindergarten to participate in
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137	137	dual enrollment under Section 53G-6-702.
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139	139	(3) Kindergartens established under Subsection (2) shall receive state money under Title
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141	141	53F, Public Education System -- Funding.
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143	143	(4)(a) The state board shall:
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145	145	(i) develop and collect data from a kindergarten assessment that the board selects by
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147	147	rule;
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149	149	(ii) make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
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151	151	Rulemaking Act, regarding the administration of and reporting regarding the
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153	153	assessment described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
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155	155	(iii) establish minimum standards for half-day kindergarten.
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157	157	(b) An LEA shall:
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159	159	(i) administer the assessment described in Subsection (4)(a) to each kindergarten
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161	161	student; and
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163	163	(ii) report to the state board the results of the assessment described in Subsection
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165	165	(4)(b)(i) in relation to each kindergarten student in the LEA.
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167	167	(5) The state board shall require LEAs to report average daily membership for all
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169	169	kindergarten students who attend kindergarten on a schedule that is equivalent in length
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171	171	to the schedule for grades 1 through 3 with the October 1 data described in Section
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173	173	53F-2-302.
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175	175	(6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
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177	177	state board shall make rules to:
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179	179	(a) beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, require a student to be toilet trained
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181	181	before being enrolled in kindergarten;
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183	183	(b) establish requirements for an LEA's kindergarten enrollment process to include
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185	185	assurances from a parent that the parent's student is toilet trained;
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187	187	(c) create a process for an LEA to follow when an enrolled student in kindergarten is
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189	189	found to not be toilet trained, including:
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191	191	(i) referring the student and the student's parent to a school social worker or
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193	193	counselor for additional family supports and resources;
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195	195	(ii) allowing a parent or the parent's adult designee to aid in toilet training as needed;
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197	197	and
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199	199	(iii) when needed, reintegration of a student once the student has become toilet
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201	201	trained; and
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203	203	(d) create exemptions from the requirement in Subsection (6)(a) for a student who is not
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206	206	able to be toilet trained before kindergarten because of a condition described in an
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208	208	IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan.
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210	210	Section 2. Effective Date.
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212	212	This bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
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