H.B. 329

1

HIGH-ABILITY STUDENT INITIATIVE
2 PROGRAM
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last
6 Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill creates the High-ability Student Initiative Program to provide resources for
11 educators to enhance the academic growth of high-ability students.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . creates the High-ability Student Initiative Program and describes its components;
15 . requires the State Board of Education to:
16 . establish a grant program to encourage a licensed teacher to obtain an
17 endorsement for gifted and talent education;
18 . conduct an evaluation of the High-ability Student Initiative Program; and
19 . make a report to the Public Education Interim Committee for three years.
20 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
21 This bill appropriates:
22 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $1,010,000 from
23 the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2008-09 to the State Board of Education;
24 and
25 . $2,840,000 from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2008-09 only, to the State
26 Board of Education.
27 Other Special Clauses:

28 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 ENACTS:
31 53A-17a-154, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-154 is enacted to read:
35 53A-17a-154. High-ability Student Initiative Program.
36 (1) The High-ability Student Initiative Program is created to provide resources for
37 educators to enhance the academic growth of high-ability students.
38 (2) The program shall consist of:
39 (a) personnel under the direction of the State Board of Education and superintendent of
40 public instruction who shall direct and facilitate the program;
41 (b) a comprehensive, Internet-based resource center to provide information about
42 high-ability students to teachers, administrators, parents, and the community;
43 (c) professional development and professional learning communities for teachers,
44 including research-based tools to:
45 (i) identify high-ability students;
46 (ii) implement strategies to meet high-ability students' needs;
47 (iii) train and mentor teachers; and
48 (iv) enhance teacher collaboration and networking, including videoconferencing
49 equipment for classroom observation and coaching;
50 (d) assistance for a teacher to obtain an endorsement for gifted and talented education;
51 and
52 (e) an evaluation of the program.
53 (3) (a) From monies appropriated for the High-ability Student Initiative Program, the
54 State Board of Education shall establish a grant program to encourage a licensed teacher to
55 obtain an endorsement for gifted and talented education.
56 (b) The State Board of Education may award up to 250 grants in amounts of up to
57 $2,500 each.
58 (c) To receive a grant, a licensed teacher shall provide matching funds in an amount

59 equal to 1/2 the grant amount.
60 (4) From monies appropriated for the High-ability Student Initiative Program, the State
61 Board of Education shall:
62 (a) contract with an independent, qualified evaluator, selected through a request for
63 proposals process, to evaluate the High-ability Student Initiative Program; and
64 (b) provide up to 60 stipends in amounts of up to $1,500 each for teachers who
65 participate in the evaluation.
66 (5) High-ability Student Initiative Program monies may not be used to supplant funds
67 for existing programs, but may be used to augment existing programs.
68 (6) Participation in the High-ability Student Initiative Program shall be:
69 (a) voluntary for an individual teacher; and
70 (b) voluntary for a charter school or school district.
71 (7) The State Board of Education shall make an annual report during the 2009, 2010,
72 and 2011 interims to the Public Education Interim Committee describing the program's impact
73 on high-ability students.
74 Section 2. Appropriation.
75 As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
76 from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2008-09, $1,010,000 to the State Board of
77 Education to fund the High-ability Student Initiative Program established in Section
78 53A-17a-154 .
79 Section 3. Appropriation.
80 There is appropriated $2,840,000 from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year
81 2008-09 only, to the State Board of Education to fund start-up costs for the High-ability
82 Student Initiative Program established in Section 53A-17a-154 .
83 Section 4. Effective date.
84 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-23-08 10:31 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel