SB 595

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to award a three-year

contract to a service provider to administer an online early learning program to

low-income children who reside in three urban school districts selected by DPI and

three rural school districts selected by DPI. Under the bill, the service provider must

administer the online early learning program during the 2020-21, 2021-22, and

2022-23 school years.

Under the bill, a service provider is a nonprofit organization that has

successfully conducted an online early learning program in the past and can

demonstrate its past success using independent evaluations. To qualify as an online

early learning program, a program must satisfy the following criteria:

1. The program provides computer-based instruction to children on a home

computer and includes content in reading, math, and science.

2. The program is designed to improve a child's transition to five-year-old

kindergarten and aligned with nationally recognized early learning standards.

3. The program requires parental engagement and involvement that includes

interaction with a learning coach.

4. The program evaluates a child's growth over the course of the program.

5. The program provides a participating low-income family with access to a

computer and Internet service in the family's home at no cost.

Under the bill, during the term of the contract, the service provider must

provide an annual report to DPI that includes specific information about who is

participating in the program, the number of families requesting and being provided

access to a computer or the Internet at home, and how children participating in the

program performed on prekindergarten and kindergarten readiness assessments.

By October 15, 2023, DPI must compile the information it received for each year of

the contract and submit it to the legislature. Finally, the bill requires the service

provider selected to administer the online early learning program to provide

$500,000 in matching funds during the three-year term of the contract.