HB0477 | Full-day Kindergarten Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill makes full-day kindergarten available for all local education agencies with an option for half-day kindergarten.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
13 ▸ amends provisions related to scholarship amounts tied to the length of a
14 kindergarten class;
15 ▸ amends funding formulas related to kindergarten to reflect a full-day length of a
16 kindergarten class;
17 ▸ requires local education agency governing boards to provide an optional half-day
18 kindergarten class upon request;

Bill Details
Bill Number: 
HB0477
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Robert M. Spendlove
Republican - District 42
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
View Fiscal Note
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
EDU 2022-1 | Full-Day Kindergarten
Impact on Children: 

Compared to half-day kindergarten, full-day kindergarten is associated with greater academic gains for students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged, multilingual learners, and other students belonging to historically underserved groups in Utah and elsewhere. Access to full-day kindergarten for all families who choose to participate will help Utah close the achievement gap between socioeconomic and ethnic groups. Full-day kindergarten is nationally and internationally recognized as educational best practice.

Commission: 
Family Life
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA supports the expansion of optional full-day kindergarten programs for students in need of support to achieve minimal learning standards and requests increased funding to support such expansion.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

1. EDUCATION FUNDING. Support an adequately funded public school system by: supporting a 6.5% WPU increase over and above growth and inflation to be used for purposes such as recruiting, supporting, and retaining teachers; supporting increased access to full-day kindergarten by funding K-12 students at a full WPU; and supporting policies to increase proficiency levels in public schools, improving attendance, and increase academic excellence for all Utah students.