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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill creates a program to provide grants to local education agencies for
10 professional development for school counselors.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ creates the Strengthening College and Career Readiness Program, a grant program
15 for local education agencies, to improve students' college and career readiness
16 through enhancing the skill level of school counselors to provide college and career
17 counseling; and
18 ▸ directs the State Board of Education to:
19 • develop a certificate for school counselors that certifies that a school counselor
20 is highly skilled at providing college and career counseling;
21 • award grants to local education agencies, on a competitive basis, for payment of
22 course fees for courses required to earn the certificate;
23 • make rules; and
24 • report to the Education Interim Committee.
25 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2016:
27 ▸ to the State Board of Education - State Office of Education, as a one-time
28 appropriation:
29 • from the Education Fund, One-time, $400,000
30 Other Special Clauses:
31 This bill provides a special effective date.
32 Utah Code Sections Affected:
33 ENACTS:
34 53A-15-1501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 53A-15-1501 is enacted to read:
38 53A-15-1501. Initiative to strengthen college and career readiness.
39 (1) As used in this section:
40 (a) "College and career counseling" means:
41 (i) nurturing college and career aspirations;
42 (ii) assisting students in planning an academic program that connects to college and
43 career goals;
44 (iii) providing early and ongoing exposure to information necessary to make informed
45 decisions when selecting a college and career;
46 (iv) promoting participation in college and career assessments;
47 (v) providing financial aid information; and
48 (vi) increasing understanding about college admission processes.
49 (b) "LEA" or "local education agency" means a school district or charter school.
50 (2) There is created the Strengthening College and Career Readiness Program, a grant
51 program for LEAs, to improve students' college and career readiness through enhancing the
52 skill level of school counselors to provide college and career counseling.
53 (3) The State Board of Education shall:
54 (a) on or before August 1, 2015, collaborate with the State Board of Regents, and
55 business, community, and education stakeholders to develop a certificate for school counselors
56 that:
57 (i) certifies that a school counselor is highly skilled at providing college and career
58 counseling; and
59 (ii) is aligned with the Utah Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program as
60 defined in rules established by the State Board of Education;
61 (b) subject to legislative appropriations, award grants to LEAs, on a competitive basis,
62 for payment of course fees for courses required to earn the certificate developed by the State
63 Board of Education under Subsection (3)(a); and
64 (c) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
65 make rules specifying:
66 (i) procedures for applying for and awarding grants under this section;
67 (ii) criteria for awarding grants; and
68 (iii) reporting requirements for grantees.
69 (4) An LEA that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant for payment of
70 course fees for courses required to attain the certificate as determined by the State Board of
71 Education under Subsection (3)(a).
72 (5) The State Board of Education shall report to the Education Interim Committee on
73 the status of the Strengthening College and Career Readiness Program on or before:
74 (a) November 1, 2016; and
75 (b) November 1, 2017.
76 Section 2. Appropriation.
77 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
78 the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016, the following sums of money
79 are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
80 previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
81 addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2016.
82 To State Board of Education - State Office of Education - Initiative Programs
83 From Education Fund, One-time
$400,000
84 Schedule of Programs:
85 Contracts and Grants - Strengthening College and
86 Career Readiness Pilot Program $400,000
87 The Legislature intends that:
88 (1) The State Office of Education expend appropriations under this section in fiscal
89 years 2016, 2017, and 2018; and
90 (2) Under 63J-1-603, appropriations provided under this section not lapse.
91 Section 3. Effective date.
92 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 12, 2015.
93 (2) Uncodified Section 2, Appropriation, takes effect on July 1, 2015.