The test takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs about $4 per child. In addition to these comprehensive tests, curriculum writers are now incorporating multiple shorter exams into kindergarten lesson plans.

Education Department officials insist that the 32 early elementary schools don’t have to give the kindergarten test yet — though they are required to administer it by this spring.

Utah schools already test kids to measure their academic skills before they start public school, but educators vary in their approach. The new test would give statewide students a consistent ...