Statewide goal -- Emphasis on early literacy

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Benchmark reading assessment" means the statewide benchmark assessment in reading described in Section 53E-4-307 that a school district or charter school administers to students in kindergarten through grade 3 at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. (b) "Reading on grade level" means that a student scores at or above the benchmark for the relevant grade level on the benchmark reading assessment. (2) To achieve a strenuous statewide goal of 80% of students reading on grade level on the end-of-year benchmark reading assessment in grade 3 by July 1, 2030: (a) the state board shall: (i) analyze, align, and target resources, including digital software and tools, in existing state programs and the programs enacted in Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 285, as appropriate, to support early literacy within the state; and (ii) identify opportunities to incentivize and support LEAs and elementary schools to analyze data, align plans, and target resources from existing local and LEA programs to support early literacy within the state, resulting in a comprehensive statewide alignment of early literacy plans; and (b) each LEA shall engage in targeted literacy interventions in accordance with Section 53G-10-306.