Of seven proposed bills aimed at bridging the gap, two passed.

"I definitely think the achievement gap got short shrift in the Legislature," Utah Education Association President Pat Rusk said.

Rep. Duane Bourdeaux, D-Salt Lake City, had hoped that given this year's budget surplus, more money would have gone to addressing the problem.

"The gap is currently too large, and it's going to take resources to get it closed," he said earlier. However, he also advised patience, because some legislators don't believe a gap exists or think it doesn't affect their districts.

Others concerned with closing the gap, such as Hiagi Wesley, Granite School District director of educational equity, wanted lawmakers to create accountability for solving the problem from the state down to the classroom.

"It's not just one person who will close the gap. There needs to be intervention on all levels," Wesley said.

Michael Clara, a member of the governor's achievement gap task force, however, remains reasonably optimistic.

"I recognize that all the bills didn't pass, but it's a good starting point," he said. "I have every confidence within the next couple of years the achievement gap will be addressed through the Legislature."

The two bills that gave him hope include a bill sponsored by Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, that would provide $500,000 in grant money to reimburse teachers to become "highly qualified" as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind act. It awaits the signature of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

The second measure, if signed, would test entering pre-kindergarten students earlier in order to allot more time for school preparation, and is also awaiting Huntsman's signature.

However, of the seven bills aimed at closing the gap, such as Holdaway's measure that would have provided $7 million to fund optional all-day kindergarten programs, five failed. Those bills would have reduced class size, helped reimburse schools for student fee waivers and set aside funding for English as a second language education.

Patti Harrington, state superintendent of schools, was especially disappointed to see no funding for full-day kindergarten.

"We really make inroads on achievement when children are young, and if we could have focused those resources, we could have made a big difference," said Harrington, who hopes to see the bill come back next session.

Huntsman has said he will pursue funding for full-day kindergarten next session but is still gathering information about the other bills addressing the achievement gap, according to the Mike Mower, the governor's deputy chief of staff.

Meanwhile, at least one bill passed that observers say likely will widen the gap.

Sponsored by Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, it would allow colleges to charge $30 per credit hour for concurrent enrollment courses, which opponents say would make it difficult for low-income students to take advantage of the courses. Dayton argued that without the increased fee, colleges would stop providing concurrent enrollment to all students, even though the program received $2.3 million in funding from lawmakers.

"Raising the fee without providing provisions for financial assistance to the low socioeconomic students only widens the achievement gap related to college graduation," the Granite district's Wesley said.

The Utah Board of Education wants Huntsman to veto Dayton's bill unless provisions are made for low-income students to take the courses without paying.

smcfarland@sltrib.com