Utah Code § 63N-20-102 — Utah Code / Title 63N / Chapter 63N-20 / § 63N-20-102
§ 63N-20-102. UPSTART program to develop school readiness skills of preschool children.
Status: in_force

(1) UPSTART, a statewide program that uses a home-based educational technology program and parent engagement to develop school readiness skills of preschool children, is established within the public education system. (2) UPSTART is created to: (a) provide preschool children across the state access to a home-based educational technology program with strong parental involvement; (b) develop the school readiness of preschool children across the state; and (c) deliver curriculum in reading, math, and science to preschool children across the state. (3) (a) The office shall contract with an educational technology provider, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, for the delivery of a home-based educational technology program for preschool children that meets the requirements of Subsection (4). (b) The office shall assume the rights and duties of the state board in any contract into which the state board entered with a contractor that exists on May 3, 2023: (i) to ensure continuity of the UPSTART program; and (ii) until the office secures a contract with a contractor in accordance with Subsection (3)(a). (c) Every five years, the office may issue a new competitive procurement to meet the requirements described in this section. (4) The office shall ensure that a home-based educational technology program for preschool children meets the following standards: (a) the contractor shall have: (i) at least three years of experience in implementing a home-based educational technology program for preschool children; and (ii) a randomized controlled trial and other external evaluations that support the efficacy of the home-based educational technology program for preschool children; (b) the contractor shall provide individualized software instruction for preschool children in the home; (c) the contractor shall: (i) provide technical support to families for the installation and operation of the instructional software; and (ii) provide for the installation of a computer, a tablet, or other electronic or peripheral equipment, and Internet access: (A) in homes of participants who are eligible to receive free or reduced lunch; and (B) for participating private preschool providers, including residential certificate providers, based upon need; (d) the contractor shall have the capability of doing the following through the Internet: (i) communicating with parents; (ii) updating the instructional software; (iii) validating user access; (iv) collecting usage data; (v) storing research data; and (vi) producing reports for parents, schools, and the Legislature; (e) the program shall include the following components: (i) individualized software instruction in reading, mathematics, and science that: (A) aligns with the Utah core standards for preschool that the state board adopts; (B) aligns with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework implemented in accordance with the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9801 et seq.; (C) the Council of Administrators of Special Education endorses; and (D) meets the United States Department of Education benchmarks for evidence-based programs; (ii) a multisensory reading tutoring program; and (iii) a validated adaptive reading test that does not require the presence of trained adults to administer and is an accurate indicator of reading readiness of children who cannot read; (f) the contractor shall have the capability to quickly and efficiently modify, improve, and support the product; and (g) the contractor shall work in cooperation with public preschool or private preschool provider personnel who will provide administrative and technical support of the program as provided in Section 63N-20-103; (h) the contractor shall implement the program throughout the state in both urban and rural areas as provided in Section 63N-20-104; (i) in implementing the home-based educational technology program, the contractor shall seek the advice and expertise from early childhood education professionals and stakeholders, including the Utah System of Higher Education, the state board, public and private preschool providers, local school board members, teachers, and parents on issues such as: (i) soliciting families to participate in the program as provided in Section 63N-20-104; (ii) providing training to families; and (iii) motivating families to regularly use the instructional software. (5) The contract shall provide funding for a home-based educational technology program for preschool children, subject to the appropriation of money by the Legislature for UPSTART. (6) The office shall evaluate a proposal based only upon the following criteria: (a) whether the home-based educational technology program meets the standards specified in Subsection (4) and Section 63N-20-104; (b) audit and evaluation results under Section 63N-20-106, if: (i) the office has previously awarded a contract to the home-based educational technology program provider under this part; or (ii) the state board has previously awarded a contract to the home-based educational technology program provider for UPSTART; (c) the results of an independent evaluation of the home-based educational technology program; (d) the per pupil cost of the home-based educational technology program; (e) any of the following specifically related to a criterion described in Subsections (6)(a) through (d): (i) the experience of the home-based educational technology provider; (ii) the demonstrated abilities of the home-based educational technology provider; (iii) the general functionality of the home-based educational technology provider; (iv) the implementation of the home-based educational technology provider; and (v) the applicant's interview; and (7) In evaluating a competitive procurement under Subsection (6), the office may not subdivide a standard or criteria described in Subsection (4) or (6), including an item related to cost, to require information not required under this chapter.