AGENDA

 

Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee

 

The committee chairs have scheduled the following meeting:

 

                                    DATE:      Wednesday, January 6, 2016

                                    TIME:       8:30 a.m.

                                    PLACE:    Room 210, Senate Building, State Capitol Complex

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

Sen. Howard A. Stephenson, Chair

Rep. Steve Eliason, Chair

Rep. Michael S. Kennedy, House Vice Chair

 

                  Sen. J. Stuart Adams                                        Rep. Joel K. Briscoe

                  Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard                                      Rep. LaVar Christensen

                  Sen. Jani Iwamoto                                           Rep. Bruce Cutler

                  Sen. Aaron Osmond                                        Rep. Rebecca P. Edwards

                  Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher                                  Rep. Justin L. Fawson

                  Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart                                Rep. Francis D. Gibson

                                                                                          Rep. Bradley G. Last

                                                                                          Rep. David E. Lifferth

                                                                                          Rep. Marie H. Poulson

                                                                                          Rep. Kraig Powell

                                                                                          Rep. Norm Thurston

 

Staff:         Ben Leishman, Fiscal Analyst                          Jill L. Curry, Fiscal Analyst

                 

 

 

Please be aware that the public portions of this meeting will be broadcast live over the Internet. Also, be aware that an audio recording of the public portions of this meeting, along with any materials presented or distributed in the public portions of this meeting, will be posted on the Legislature’s website. Witnesses with questions or concerns should contact staff.

 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for this meeting should call the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel at 801-538-1032 or use Relay Utah (toll free in-state 7-1-1 or Spanish-language 888-346-3162), giving them at least 48 hours notice or the best notice practicable. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests for aids and services for effective communication during the annual General Session. However, please note that given the unpredictable and fast-paced nature of the legislative process, it is essential that you notify us of an accommodation request as soon as possible. Failure to do so in some circumstances may result in the Utah Legislature’s inability to accommodate the request.

 

AGENDA

 

Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee

 

Wednesday – January 6, 2016

 

Morning Session

1.      8:30 a.m.      Approval of Minutes

                     Minutes from: November 24, 2015

2.      8:35 a.m.      2015 General Session Follow-up: Intent Language Reports

The subcommittee passed intent language during the 2015 General Session directing the State Board of Education to study three programs: Class Size Reduction, Pupil Transportation, and Concurrent Enrollment.  The State Board of Education will report any findings and recommendations.

3.      9:20 a.m.      Statutorily Required Reports

Statute requires the State Board of Education to submit several reports to the subcommittee each year.  The subcommittee will review each report presented by the State Board of Education and determine which reports should continue and which should be eliminated.  Reports Include the following: Professional Practices Restricted Subfund (53A-6-105), Concurrent Enrollment (53A-17a-120.5), K-3 Reading Improvement (53A-17a-150), Educator Salary Adjustments (53A-17a-153), Enhancement for Accelerated Students (53A-17a-165), Enhancement for At-Risk Students (53A-17a-166), Title I Schools in Improvement (53A-17a-168), STEM Action Center (63N-12-208).  

4.      10:00 a.m.    Property Tax Equalization – School District Implementation of S.B. 97 Funding

During the November 24, 2015 meeting, the subcommittee asked for information on how school districts are using increased funding provided through S.B. 97, Property Tax Equalization Amendments passed in the 2015 General Session.  Subcommittee members will review school district responses.

5.      10:15 a.m.    Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Review – Estimates Compared to Actuals                    

The subcommittee will review the FY 2015 year-end budgets for the Minimum School Program (MSP) and the state education agencies.  This will include final weighted pupil unit and property tax revenues, distribution of programmatic funding, and closing nonlapsing balances in the MSP.  For state education agencies, the subcommittee will review revenues and expenditures by line-item including closing nonlapsing balances.                   

6.      10:45 a.m.    Fees                                                                    

The subcommittee will review any statutorily authorized fees charged by education agencies and evaluate which fees should continue, be altered, or eliminated.

 

 

7.      11:00 a.m.    Minimum School Program – Oversight of Categorical Programs

The subcommittee will review methods to increase the transparency of certain budgeted items with the MSP categorical programs and the use of programmatic funding for state-level administrative costs.

8.      11:30 a.m.    Qualifying for the Regents’ Scholarship

A Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) representative will brief the committee on the Regents’ Scholarship, qualification requirements, and recent media reports about the scholarship program.                                         

Lunch Session

9.      12:00 p.m.    Lunch Break

Lunch will be provided for members of the subcommittee by students participating in the ProStart culinary arts program.  This is an open meeting.  The public is welcome to bring or purchase a lunch from the Capitol Cafeteria and dine with the subcommittee.     

Afternoon Session

10.  1:00 p.m.      Subcommittee Bill – Moving the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation

During the November 24, 2015 meeting the subcommittee voted to open a bill file to move the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation from the State Board of Education to the Department of Workforce Services.  The Subcommittee will review general bill concepts, discuss potential policy implications, evaluate potential fiscal impacts on the Utah State Office of Education, and determine next steps in the development of this legislation.

11.  1:45 p.m.      Digital Learning Software Update

Subcommittee members will hear implementation updates from the Utah State Office of Education on several digital learning software license initiatives implemented in recent years. Program include: Early Intervention Reading Software Licenses, English Language Learner Software Licenses, and the Electronic Reading Assessment Tool.

12.  2:15 p.m.      ALEKS Online Math Program

The subcommittee will hear an overview of the math program and see a demonstration of how the program works.

13.  2:45 p.m.      2016 General Session Preview

Subcommittee members will discuss major issues facing the education budget during the upcoming 2016 General Session.  Discussion may include student growth estimates, major budget initiatives, budget-related legislation, etc.                                                    

14.  3:30 p.m.      Adjourn