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(1) The state board shall, as described in Subsection (4), distribute funds appropriated under this section for an enhanced kindergarten program described in Subsection (2), to school districts and charter schools that apply for the funds.
(2) An LEA governing board shall use funds appropriated in this section for a school district or charter school to offer an early intervention program, delivered through an enhanced kindergarten program that:
(a) is an academic program focused on building age-appropriate literacy and numeracy skills;
(b) uses an evidence-based early intervention model;
(c) is targeted to at-risk students; and
(d) is delivered through additional hours or other means.
(3) An LEA governing board may not require a student to participate in an enhanced kindergarten program described in Subsection (2).
(4) Subject to Subsection (6), the state board shall distribute funds appropriated under this section for an enhanced kindergarten program described in Subsection (2) as follows:
(a)
(i) the total allocation for charter schools shall be calculated by:
(A) dividing the number of charter school students by the total number of students in the public education system in the prior school year; and
(B) multiplying the resulting percentage by the total amount of available funds; and
(ii) the amount calculated under Subsection (4)(a) shall be distributed to charter schools with the greatest need for an enhanced kindergarten program, as determined by the state board in consultation with the State Charter School Board;
(b) each school district shall receive the amount calculated by:
(i) multiplying the value of the weighted pupil unit by 0.45; and
(ii) multiplying the result by 20; and
(c) the remaining funds, after the allocations described in Subsections (4)(a) and (4)(b) are made, shall be distributed to applicant school districts by:
(i) determining the number of students eligible to receive free lunch in the prior school year for each school district; and
(ii) prorating the remaining funds based on the number of students eligible to receive free lunch in each school district.
(5)
(a) The state board shall:
(i) develop and collect data from kindergarten entry and exit assessments; and
(ii) make rules regarding the administration of and reporting regarding the assessments.
(b) An LEA shall administer the entry and exit assessments described in Subsection (5)(a) to each kindergarten student.
(6) For an LEA that receives funds under Subsection (4):
(a) the LEA shall report to the state board the results of the entry and exit assessments described in Subsection (5)(a) in relation to each kindergarten student in the LEA; and
(b) the LEA is not eligible for subsequent distributions under Subsection (4) unless the results of the entry and exit assessments demonstrate successful outcomes of the LEA's enhanced kindergarten program, as determined by the board.