As used in this chapter:

1. (1) "Department" means the Department of Workforce Services.
2. (2) "Economically disadvantaged" means to be eligible to receive free or reduced price lunch.

3. (3)

   1. (a) "Eligible LEA" means an LEA that collects longitudinal academic outcome data, including special education use by student, by identifying each student with a statewide unique student identifier.
   2. (b) "Eligible LEA" includes a program exempt from licensure under Subsection 26B-2-405(2)(e).

4. (4)

   1. (a) "Eligible private provider" means a child care program that:

      1. (i) is licensed under Title 26B, Chapter 2, Part 4, Child Care Licensing; or
      2. (ii) except as provided in Subsection (4)(b)(ii), is exempt from licensure under Section 26B-2-405.

   2. (b) "Eligible private provider" does not include:

      1. (i) residential child care, as defined in Section 26B-2-401; or
      2. (ii) a program exempt from licensure under Subsection 26B-2-405(2)(e).

5. (5) "Eligible student" means a student:

   1. (a)

      1. (i) who is three, four, or five years old; and
      2. (ii) is not eligible for enrollment under Subsection 53G-4-402(8); and

   2. (b)

      1. (i) who is economically disadvantaged;
      2. (ii) whose parent or legal guardian reports that the student has experienced at least one risk factor;
      3. (iii) is an English learner; or
      4. (iv) has ever been in foster care.
6. (6) "Evaluation" means an evaluation conducted in accordance with Section 35A-15-303.

7. (7) "High quality school readiness program" means a preschool program that:

   1. (a) is provided by an eligible LEA or eligible private provider; and
   2. (b) meets the elements of a high quality school readiness program described in Section 35A-15-202.
8. (8) "Investor" means a person that enters into a results-based contract to provide funding to a high quality school readiness program on the condition that the person will receive payment in accordance with Section 35A-15-402 if the high quality school readiness program meets the performance outcome measures included in the results-based contract.
9. (9) "Kindergarten transition plan" means a plan that supports the smooth transition of a preschool student to kindergarten and includes communication and alignment among the preschool, program, parents, and K-12 personnel.
10. (10) "Local Education Agency" or "LEA" means a school district or charter school.

11. (11) "Performance outcome measure" means:

    1. (a) indicators, as determined by the department, on the school readiness assessment; or
    2. (b) for a results-based contract, the indicators included in the contract.

12. (12) "Results-based contract" means a contract that:

    1. (a) is entered into in accordance with Section 35A-15-402;
    2. (b) includes a performance outcome measure; and
    3. (c) is between the department, a provider of a high quality school readiness program, and an investor.

13. (13) "Risk factor" means:

    1. (a) having a mother who was 18 years old or younger when the child was born;
    2. (b) a member of a child's household is incarcerated;
    3. (c) living in a neighborhood with high violence or crime;
    4. (d) having one or both parents with a low reading ability;
    5. (e) moving at least once in the past year;
    6. (f) living with multiple families in the same household;

    7. (g) having exposure in a child's home to:

       1. (i) physical abuse or domestic violence;
       2. (ii) substance abuse;
       3. (iii) the death or chronic illness of a parent or sibling; or
       4. (iv) mental illness; or
    8. (h) having at least one parent who has not completed high school.
14. (14) "School readiness assessment" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-4-314.

15. (15) "School readiness team" means a team comprised of staff from:

    1. (a) the Department of Workforce Services' Office of Child Care that support preschool and early care programs; and
    2. (b) the state board that oversees preschool programs.
16. (16) "State board" means the State Board of Education.
17. (17) "Tool" means the tool developed in accordance with Section 35A-15-303.

Amended by Chapter 525, 2024 General Session