157.063 Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Project -- Selection of provider --
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/ky/157-063A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Duties -- Report.
(1)The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(a)During the first five
(5)years of life, children experience rapid learning and
development that have effects that endure their lifetimes;
(b)A key milestone in children's development is their transition into and
readiness for kindergarten;
(c)High quality early childhood literacy programs can significantly improve a
child's readiness for kindergarten and future academic success;
(d)Children in Kentucky would benefit from access to varied and effective early
literacy services; and
(e)Developing new and innovative services for the children of the
Commonwealth can expand access to early literacy services and improve
kindergarten readiness.
(2)As used in this section:
(a)"Child-care center" has the same meaning as in KRS 199.894;
(b)"Contractor" means the educational technology provider selected pursuant to
subsection
(4)of this section;
(c)"Department" means the Kentucky Department of Education; and
(d)"Eligible child" means a child who is four
(4)or five
(5)years old and is not
currently enrolled in kindergarten in a public school district, but is eligible to
enroll during the following school year.
(3)The Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Project is hereby established to provide
preschool children with access to educational technology programs that use family
engagement to improve kindergarten readiness. The pilot project shall:
(a)During the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, provide a cohort of
eligible children during each school year with access to an educational
technology program that:
1. Utilizes family engagement to deliver age-appropriate instruction in
reading that may be implemented in homes or in child-care centers;
2. Offers optional instruction in mathematics and science;
3. Aligns with relevant state standards for preschool under KRS 157.3175;
4. Assists with the objectives of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. sec. 9801 et
seq.;
5. Assists children with disabilities in preparing for kindergarten; and
6. Meets the benchmarks for evidence-based programs established by the
United States Department of Education;
(b)Operate under the oversight of the Kentucky Department of Education;
(c)Solicit families to encourage their eligible child's participation in the pilot
project through public information campaigns, outreach programs, and
referrals from other educational entities that are partially focused on
communities and areas of the state encountering persistent poverty;
(d)Reserve forty percent (40%) of a cohort's membership for eligible students
with a household income of no more than two hundred percent (200%) of the
federal poverty level. However, if a seat reserved under this paragraph
remains vacant for more than two
(2)months, the seat in that cohort may be
given to any eligible child. The pilot project shall enroll eligible children as
students in both the reserved and unreserved membership in the order the
completed applications were submitted. The maximum enrollment for each
cohort shall be established by the department and provider based on the funds
available;
(e)Use:
1. A multisensory reading tutoring program; and
2. A validated adaptive reading test that does not require the presence of
trained adults to administer and that has been demonstrated as an
accurate indicator of a child's reading readiness; and
(f)As needed and at no cost for the student's family, for the duration of the
student's participation in the pilot project, provide a student with a household
income of no more than four hundred percent (400%) of the federal poverty
level with:
1. A computer or tablet; and
2. Access to internet service.
(4)The Kentucky Department of Education shall select a provider to implement the
pilot project under the department's oversight. In evaluating provider applicants, the
department shall require an applicant to have:
(a)At least three
(3)years of experience in implementing similar services;
(b)Conducted a randomized controlled trial or other external evaluation that
support the efficacy of the educational technology program the provider
implements; and
(c)Capabilities to:
1. Partner with preschool, head start, and child-care centers to serve
participating students;
2. Communicate with parents and other education professionals involved
in the pilot project;
3. Update the instructional software as needed;
4. Validate user access;
5. Collect user data;
6. Store research data;
7. Produce reports for parents, schools, the department, and the Legislative
Research Commission; and
8. Comply with state and federal education and digital privacy laws.
(5)The selected provider shall:
(a)Develop a recruitment plan to solicit families to participate in the pilot
project;
(b)Implement the pilot project in compliance with subsection
(3)of this section;
(c)Provide administrative and technical support to students, families, and any
other involved education professionals for the installation and operation of the
instructional software;
(d)Seek the advice and expertise of local stakeholders, such as public and private
early childhood education professionals, the department, local school board
members, kindergarten teachers, and parents, on the implementation of the
pilot project in areas such as:
1. Soliciting families to participate in the pilot project;
2. Providing training to families and education professionals; and
3. Motivating families to regularly use the instructional software; and
(e)At the conclusion of each school year, report any data required by the
department to conduct an evaluation of the pilot project's effectiveness.
(6)By December 1, 2025, the department shall submit a report to the Legislative
Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Education, that
contains the following:
(a)The extent to which the pilot project is accomplishing the objectives identified
in this section;
(b)The number of families:
1. Participating in the project;
2. Who have received technology devices or internet service in the project;
and
3. Who have household incomes of no more than two hundred percent
(200%) of the federal poverty level or who reside in areas of persistent
poverty;
(c)The number of private and public educational entities the provider has
partnered with during the pilot project;
(d)The frequency of use of the instructional software;
(e)Obstacles encountered with software usage, hardware, internet access, or
providing technical assistance; and
(f)Student performance on any kindergarten entry or exit assessments conducted
by school districts or public charter schools that compare students have
participated in the project and students who have not.
(7)The Kentucky Department of Education shall implement this section to the extent
that federal funds are available.