02-28 09:06 H.B. 568
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Half-day Kindergarten Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci
Senate Sponsor:
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill requires local education agencies (LEAs) to provide a half-day kindergarten class
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in each school.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ requires LEAs to provide a half-day kindergarten class in each school;
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▸ removes language related to a requirement to only provide a half-day class within the
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LEA and upon parental request;
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▸ allows the LEA governing board certain discretion if half-day enrollment is lower than a
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given threshold; and
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▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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This bill provides a special effective date.
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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53G-7-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 354
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 53G-7-203 is amended to read:
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53G-7-203 . Kindergartens -- Establishment -- Funding -- Assessment.
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(1) Kindergartens are an integral part of the state's public education system.
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(2)(a) Each LEA governing board shall provide kindergarten classes free of charge for
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kindergarten children residing within the district or attending the charter school.
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(b) Each LEA governing board shall:
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(i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), at each school and for each enrolled
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kindergarten student who chooses to participate in half-day kindergarten, provide
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a half-day kindergarten [option for a student] class that comprises the minimum
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standards for half-day kindergarten that the state board establishes[, in accordance
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with Subsection (4)(a)(iii), if the student's parent requests a half-day option]; and
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(ii)(A) inform parents of the availability of the option to register for a designated
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full-curriculum, half-day kindergarten option at the time of all kindergarten
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registration, by email, posters, or other announcements when a parent requests
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kindergarten registration; and
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(B) provide the option to register for a designated full-curriculum, half-day
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kindergarten [option] class at the time of registration;
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[(iii) provide a dedicated kindergarten class specifically designated as a half-day
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kindergarten class when enrollment of half-day kindergarten students at an
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individual school or a regional school exceeds a minimum of 18 students;]
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[(iv)] (iii) when enrollment of half-day kindergarten students at an individual school
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exceeds a minimum of 18 students, designate the school as a half-day
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kindergarten provider for the improvement of recruiting teachers that prefer
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half-day teaching;
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[(v)] (iv) inform parents regarding the additional educational resources and
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opportunities available to parents who select the half-day kindergarten [option]
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class; and
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[(vi)] (v) ensure that a half-day kindergarten student who is registered in a class that
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includes full-day kindergarten students receives instruction that at least meets the
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minimum standards for half-day kindergarten that the state board establishes[, in
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accordance with Subsection (4)(a)(iii)].
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(c) An LEA governing board may, at the LEA governing board's discretion, move
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students who requested a half-day kindergarten class at an individual school into a
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full-day kindergarten class at the school when enrollment of half-day kindergarten
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students at the school is below 18 students.
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[(c)] (d) Nothing in this Subsection (2):
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(i) allows an LEA governing board to require a student to participate in a full-day
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kindergarten program;
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(ii) modifies the non-compulsory status of kindergarten under [Title 53G, ]Chapter 6,
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Part 2, Compulsory Education; or
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(iii) requires a student who only attends a half day of kindergarten to participate in
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dual enrollment under Section 53G-6-702.
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(3) Kindergartens established under Subsection (2) shall receive state money under Title
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53F, Public Education System -- Funding.
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(4)(a) The state board shall:
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(i) develop and collect data from a kindergarten assessment that the board selects by
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rule;
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(ii) make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
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Rulemaking Act, regarding the administration of and reporting regarding the
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assessment described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
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(iii) establish minimum standards for half-day kindergarten.
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(b) An LEA shall:
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(i) administer the assessment described in Subsection (4)(a) to each kindergarten
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student; and
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(ii) report to the state board the results of the assessment described in Subsection
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(4)(b)(i) in relation to each kindergarten student in the LEA.
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(5) The state board shall require LEAs to report average daily membership for all
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kindergarten students who attend kindergarten on a schedule that is equivalent in length
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to the schedule for grades 1 through 3 with the October 1 data described in Section
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53F-2-302.
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(6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
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state board shall make rules to:
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(a) beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, require a student to be toilet trained
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before being enrolled in kindergarten;
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(b) establish requirements for an LEA's kindergarten enrollment process to include
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assurances from a parent that the parent's student is toilet trained;
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(c) create a process for an LEA to follow when an enrolled student in kindergarten is
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found to not be toilet trained, including:
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(i) referring the student and the student's parent to a school social worker or
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counselor for additional family supports and resources;
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(ii) allowing a parent or the parent's adult designee to aid in toilet training as needed;
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and
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(iii) when needed, reintegration of a student once the student has become toilet
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trained; and
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(d) create exemptions from the requirement in Subsection (6)(a) for a student who is not
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able to be toilet trained before kindergarten because of a condition described in an
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IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan.
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Section 2. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
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