(a)

(1) The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education shall be responsible for assessment of students enrolled in the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program.

(2)

(A) Assessment shall begin upon enrollment in the program and continue until each child completes the fourth grade, so long as the child is enrolled in a public school in the state.

(B) The division and the Department of Education shall work cooperatively to ensure that the assessments are conducted as required by this section.

(b)

(1) Children in the program shall be assessed annually to provide an indication of each child's progress towards school readiness.

(2) This annual assessment shall be directly aligned with the Arkansas Early Childhood Education Framework/Early Learning Guidelines and shall serve to promote curriculum development and instructional methods that assist in achievement of the intended outcome of readiness for kindergarten (K).

(3)

(A) The assessment shall address a child's strengths, progress, and needs and shall serve as a central part of an effective early childhood program.

(B) The assessment will be used in making sound decisions about teaching and learning and to identify areas of concern that may require focused intervention.

(c)

(1) A comprehensive research study shall be implemented to evaluate the program to ensure that the program goals and intended child outcomes are being achieved.

(2) The study shall be designed to use sound research-based evidence to determine whether the programs meet the expected standards of quality and whether they are achieving the intended child outcomes.

(3) This research shall include children entering the program at ages three (3) and four (4) years and follow the children through completion of the fourth grade benchmark exams.

(d) Research results will be provided annually to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Education.