FORTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE

FIRST SESSION, 2005

February 25, 2005

Mr. Speaker:

    Your EDUCATION COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

HOUSE BILL 337

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

     1. On page 1, line 22, after the dash insert the subsection designation "A.".

     2. On page 1, line 23, after "that" insert a colon and the following:

                "(1) special needs are present among the state's population of preschool children, especially for children in school districts in which there are public elementary schools that are not making adequate yearly progress, and those needs warrant the provision of pre-kindergarten programs as a means of advancing equal opportunity for children whose readiness to learn may be impeded by circumstances beyond their control;

                (2)".

     3. On page 2, line 1, strike the period and insert in lieu thereof "; and" and the following:

                "(3) the pre-kindergarten programs, and the services they provide, will serve to advance and to promote the governmental interest and the task of furthering a readiness to learn on the part of children served before they enter instructional environments.

          B.".

     4. On page 2, line 5, before the period insert:

"; provided, however, that programs shall be targeted toward communities that have the highest percentage of public elementary schools that are not meeting the proficiency component required for calculating adequate yearly progress.".

     5. On page 2, line 23, after "school" insert ", tribal program".

     6. On page 2, between lines 23 and 24, insert a new Subsection F:

          "F. "licensed" means licensed by an agency of the state, federal or tribal government with jurisdiction over early childhood development;".

     7. Reletter the succeeding subsections accordingly.

     8. On page 3, line 15, after the period insert:

     "The departments shall monitor pre-kindergarten programs to ensure the effectiveness of child-centered, developmentally appropriate practices and outcomes. If the departments determine that a program is not meeting the goals set by the departments, they shall notify the program that failure to meet the goals shall result in the cessation of funding.".

     9. On page 3, line 20, after the first occurrence of "the" insert "educational level or".

     10. On page 3, line 22, after the period strike the remainder of the line, strike lines 23 through 25 and on page 4, strike lines 1 and 2 and insert in lieu thereof:

"Priority for funding shall be given to public elementary schools that are designated Title 1 schools and serving the highest percentage of public elementary students that are not meeting the proficiency component required for calculating adequate yearly progress and to supplement public, tribal and private early childhood programs that are:

                (1) licensed as of July 1, 2005;

                (2) serving communities that have the highest percentage of public elementary schools that are not meeting the proficiency component required for calculating adequate yearly progress; and

                (3) serving children, at least sixty-six percent of whom live within the attendance zone of a Title 1 elementary school.".

     11. On page 5, line 24, strike "and".

     12. On page 5, after line 25, insert the following new subparagraph:

                     "(k) municipalities; and".

     13. On page 6, line 20, after "facilities" strike the remainder of the line, strike all of line 21 and insert in lieu thereof "that meet the standards of the children, youth and families department or tribal or federal codes;".

     14. On page 9, line 4, after "meeting" insert "the proficiency component required for calculating".

     15. On page 9, line 5, after "progress" insert "and that are serving children, at least sixty-six percent of whom live within the attendance zone of a Title 1 elementary school".,

     16. On page 13, line 24, strike “Nine million dollars ($9,000,000)” and insert in lieu thereof “Four million dollars ($4,000,000)”.

     17. On page 14, line 3, strike “seven million dollars ($7,000,000)” and insert in lieu thereof “three million dollars ($3,000,000)”.

     18. On page 14, lines 5 and 6, strike “two hundred thirty thousand dollars ($230,000)”, and insert in lieu thereof “two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000)”.

     19. On page 14, lines 8 and 9, strike “one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000)” and insert in lieu thereof “seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000)”.

     20. On page 14, lines 14 and 15, strike “two hundred seventy thousand dollars ($270,000)” and insert in lieu thereof “one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)”.,

and thence referred to the APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.                            

                             Respectfully submitted,

Rick Miera, Chairman

Adopted     Not Adopted

           (Chief Clerk)                            (Chief Clerk)

Date

The roll call vote was 8 For 5 Against

Yes:      8

No:       Boykin, Hall, Hamilton, Williams, Zanetti

Excused:  Cordova

Absent:   None

.156798.1

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