Utah schools could start giving kids a new statewide test to measure their academic skills before they start kindergarten.

The Deseret News reports that the Utah State Board of Education approved a proposal Friday to start using a commercially available reading test if state lawmakers decide to expand full-day kindergarten.

Utah schools already test kids to see where their academic skills are at before they start public school, but the new test would give students a consistent, statewide assessment.

Education officials say that they'll likely start giving the new test if lawmakers approve one of two bills next year expanding full-day kindergarten.

The assessment would show which students would benefit from extra time in the classroom.