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SCR147.........................................................by EDUCATION
CHILDREN - PRELITERACY SKILLS - Stating findings of the Legislature
concerning the needs of children who begin school without preliteracy
skills or readiness to learn; and requesting the Department of Education,
in collaboration with the Department of Health and Welfare, to study the
problem in Idaho and report to the Legislature.
02/17 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/18 Rpt prt - to Educ
03/08 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
03/09 10th ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Title apvd - to House
03/10 House intro - 1st rdg - to W/M
SCR147
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2000
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 147
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE CONCERNING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO BEGIN
3 SCHOOL WITHOUT PRELITERACY SKILLS OR READINESS TO LEARN, AND REQUESTING
4 THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
5 HEALTH AND WELFARE, TO STUDY THE PROBLEM IN IDAHO AND REPORT TO THE LEGIS-
6 LATURE.
7 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
8 WHEREAS, results of the statewide reading assessment demonstrate that too
9 many Idaho children are beginning school without necessary preliteracy skills
10 and are unready to learn; and
11 WHEREAS, emergent literacy takes place as a child is gradually exposed to
12 written and spoken language, and this process begins at birth; and
13 WHEREAS, children who begin school already behind their peers often fall
14 further and further behind throughout their school career with devastating
15 effects upon their future success; and
16 WHEREAS, there is evidence that a substantial number of children enrolled
17 in special education who are learning disabled or who have speech and language
18 problems could avoid many of these problems with very early intervention; and
19 WHEREAS, studies show that for every dollar spent on quality preschools,
20 five to seven dollars in future costs related to juvenile justice, teen preg-
21 nancy and special education can be avoided; and
22 WHEREAS, Idaho has the second lowest preschool enrollment in the nation;
23 and
24 WHEREAS, while these indicators and many others illustrate the importance
25 of early learning environments, Idaho has not yet addressed this need in a
26 dynamic way and in part this may be due to lack of proposals specific to Idaho
27 needs, culture and resources.
28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
29 sion of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
30 sentatives concurring therein, that the Legislature requests the State Depart-
31 ment of Education in collaboration with the Department of Health and Welfare,
32 to research and report to the next session of the Legislature on how we can
33 ensure every child enters school with appropriate preliteracy skills and ready
34 to learn and, to address questions including, but not limited to:
35 What factors influence or determine a child's readiness to learn when
36 entering school?
37 How do we measure preliteracy skills and school readiness?
38 How many children in Idaho start school without appropriate
39 preliteracy skills?
40 What are the methods and costs of remediation for the lack of
41 preliteracy skills in Idaho?
42 What programs or service models have proven effective in ensuring
43 children begin school ready to learn?
44 What methods are best suited for Hispanic and limited English profi-
2
1 cient students?
2 What early education programs or services are now available in Idaho,
3 what do they cost and how are they funded?
4 The Department shall report its findings to the First Regular Session of
5 the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature with recommendations and legislation if
6 appropriate.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 10084
*The purpose of this resolution is to initiate a process through the state
Department of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Health and
Welfare, to identify the needs of Idaho's children for early childhood education
and to determine the best methods to provide such education if needed.
FISCAL IMPACT
*Any costs related to this resolution will be minimal, involving the gathering and
analyzing of data that already exists.
Contact
Name: Senator Betsy Dunklin
Phone: 334-1382
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SCR 147