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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions related to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
10 and Mathematics) Action Center.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ modifies:
15 • the membership and duties of the STEM Action Center Board;
16 • the duties of the director of the STEM Action Center; and
17 • the rulemaking authority of the State Board of Education related to the award of
18 STEM education endorsement incentives;
19 ▸ adds Utah State University Eastern to the list of educational institutions that may
20 partner with a school district or charter school to provide a STEM related
21 certification program; and
22 ▸ makes technical changes.
23 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:
28 AMENDS:
29 63N-12-203, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
30 63N-12-204, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
31 63N-12-205, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
32 63N-12-209, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 258 and renumbered and
33 amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
34 63N-12-210, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
35 63N-12-212, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
36
37 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
38 Section 1. Section 63N-12-203 is amended to read:
39 63N-12-203. STEM Action Center Board creation -- Membership.
40 (1) There is created the STEM Action Center Board within the office, composed of the
41 following members:
42 (a) six private sector members who represent business, appointed by the governor;
43 (b) the state superintendent of public instruction or the state superintendent of public
44 instruction's designee;
45 (c) the commissioner of higher education or the commissioner of higher education's
46 designee;
47 (d) one member appointed by the governor;
48 (e) a member of the State Board of Education, chosen by the chair of the State Board of
49 Education;
50 (f) the executive director of the office or the executive director's designee;
51 (g) the president of the Utah College of Applied Technology or the president of the
52 Utah College of Applied Technology's designee; [
53 (h) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the executive
54 director of the Department of Workforce Services' designee; and
55 [
56 government military installation, appointed by the governor.
57 (2) (a) The private sector members appointed by the governor in Subsection (1)(a) shall
58 represent a business or trade association whose primary focus is science, technology, or
59 engineering.
60 (b) Except as required by Subsection (2)(c), members appointed by the governor shall
61 be appointed to four-year terms.
62 (c) The length of terms of the members shall be staggered so that approximately half of
63 the committee is appointed every two years.
64 (d) The members may not serve more than two full consecutive terms except where the
65 governor determines that an additional term is in the best interest of the state.
66 (e) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
67 appointed for the unexpired term.
68 (3) Attendance of a simple majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the
69 transaction of official committee business.
70 (4) Formal action by the committee requires a majority vote of a quorum.
71 (5) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
72 may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
73 (a) Section 63A-3-106;
74 (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
75 (c) rules made by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
76 (6) The governor shall select the chair of the board to serve a [
77 (7) The executive director of the office or the executive director's designee shall serve
78 as the vice chair of the board.
79 Section 2. Section 63N-12-204 is amended to read:
80 63N-12-204. STEM Action Center Board -- Duties.
81 (1) The board shall:
82 (a) establish a STEM Action Center to:
83 (i) coordinate STEM activities in the state among the following stakeholders:
84 (A) the State Board of Education;
85 (B) school districts and charter schools;
86 (C) the State Board of Regents;
87 (D) institutions of higher education;
88 (E) parents of home-schooled students; [
89 (F) other state agencies; and
90 (G) business and industry representatives;
91 (ii) align public education STEM activities with higher education STEM activities; and
92 (iii) create and coordinate best practices among public education and higher education;
93 (b) with the consent of the Senate, appoint a director to oversee the administration of
94 the STEM Action Center;
95 (c) select a physical location for the STEM Action Center;
96 (d) strategically engage industry and business entities to cooperate with the board:
97 (i) to support high quality professional development and provide other assistance for
98 educators and students; and
99 (ii) to provide private funding and support for the STEM Action Center;
100 (e) give direction to the STEM Action Center and the providers selected through a
101 request for proposals process pursuant to this part; and
102 (f) work to meet the following expectations:
103 (i) that at least 50 educators are implementing best practice learning tools in
104 classrooms [
105 (ii) performance change in student achievement in each classroom [
106 participating in a STEM Action Center [
107 (iii) that students from at least 50 [
108 competitions, fairs, and camps described in Subsection 63N-12-205(2)(d).
109 (2) The board may:
110 (a) enter into contracts for the purposes of this part;
111 (b) apply for, receive, and disburse funds, contributions, or grants from any source for
112 the purposes set forth in this part;
113 (c) employ, compensate, and prescribe the duties and powers of individuals necessary
114 to execute the duties and powers of the board;
115 (d) prescribe the duties and powers of the STEM Action Center providers; and
116 (e) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
117 make rules to administer this part.
118 (3) The board may establish a foundation to assist in:
119 (a) the development and implementation of the programs authorized under this part to
120 promote STEM education; and
121 (b) implementation of other STEM education objectives described in this part.
122 (4) A foundation established by the board under Subsection (3):
123 (a) may solicit and receive contributions from a private organization for STEM
124 education objectives described in this part;
125 (b) shall comply with Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money Management Act;
126 (c) does not have power or authority to incur contractual obligations or liabilities that
127 constitute a claim against public funds;
128 (d) may not exercise executive or administrative authority over the programs or other
129 activities described in this part, except to the extent specifically authorized by the board;
130 (e) shall provide the board with information detailing transactions and balances of
131 funds managed for the board; and
132 (f) may not:
133 (i) engage in lobbying activities;
134 (ii) attempt to influence legislation; or
135 (iii) participate in any campaign activity for or against:
136 (A) a political candidate; or
137 (B) an initiative, referendum, proposed constitutional amendment, bond, or any other
138 ballot proposition submitted to the voters.
139 (5) Money donated to a foundation established under Subsection (3) may be accounted
140 for in an expendable special revenue fund.
141 Section 3. Section 63N-12-205 is amended to read:
142 63N-12-205. STEM Action Center.
143 (1) As funding allows, the board shall:
144 (a) establish a STEM Action Center;
145 (b) ensure that the STEM Action Center:
146 (i) is accessible by the public; and
147 (ii) includes the components described in Subsection (2);
148 (c) work cooperatively with the State Board of Education to:
149 (i) further STEM education; and
150 (ii) ensure best practices are implemented as described in Sections 63N-12-206 and
151 63N-12-207; [
152 (d) engage private entities to provide financial support or employee time for STEM
153 activities in schools in addition to what is currently provided by private entities[
154 (e) work cooperatively with stakeholders to support and promote activities that align
155 STEM education and training activities with the employment needs of business and industry in
156 the state.
157 (2) As funding allows, the director of the STEM Action Center shall:
158 (a) support high quality professional development for educators regarding STEM
159 education;
160 (b) ensure that the STEM Action Center acts as a research and development center for
161 STEM education through a request for proposals process described in Section 63N-12-206;
162 (c) review and acquire STEM education related materials and products for:
163 (i) high quality professional development;
164 (ii) assessment, data collection, analysis, and reporting; and
165 (iii) public school instruction;
166 (d) facilitate participation in interscholastic STEM related competitions, fairs, camps,
167 and STEM education activities;
168 (e) engage private industry in the development and maintenance of the STEM Action
169 Center and STEM Action Center projects;
170 (f) use resources to bring the latest STEM education learning tools into public
171 education classrooms;
172 (g) identify at least 10 best practice innovations used in Utah that have resulted in [
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174 performance or outcomes in STEM areas;
175 (h) identify best practices being used outside the state and, as appropriate, develop and
176 implement selected practices through a pilot program;
177 (i) identify:
178 (i) learning tools for kindergarten through grade 6 identified as best practices; and
179 (ii) learning tools for grades 7 through 12 identified as best practices;
180 (j) [
181 from public education, higher education, the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, and
182 other STEM related entities;
183 (k) keep track of the following items related to [
184 in Subsection (2)(j):
185 (i) how the best practices [
186 (ii) how many individuals are using the [
187 the users, if available;
188 (l) as appropriate, join and participate in a national STEM network;
189 [
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191 [
192 STEM schools, where the schools have agreed to adopt a plan of STEM implementation in
193 alignment with criteria set by the State Board of Education and the board;
194 [
195 education in kindergarten through grade 12, including methods of high quality professional
196 development that reduce cost and increase effectiveness, to help educators learn how to most
197 effectively implement best practice learning tools in classrooms;
198 [
199 camps described in Subsection (2)(d);
200 [
201 Subsection (2)(d) to media and ask the media to report on them;
202 [
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204 [
205 instruction in STEM education, including:
206 (i) improved instructional materials that are dynamic and engaging for students;
207 (ii) use of applied instruction; and
208 (iii) introduction of other research-based methods that support student achievement in
209 STEM areas; and
210 [
211 (i) public education students; and
212 (ii) higher education students.
213 (3) The board may prescribe other duties for the STEM Action Center in addition to
214 the responsibilities described in this section.
215 (4) (a) The director shall work with an independent evaluator to track and compare the
216 student performance of students participating in a STEM Action Center program to all other
217 similarly situated students in the state, if appropriate, in the following [
218 activities[
219 (i) public education high school graduation rates;
220 (ii) the number of students taking a remedial mathematics course at an institution of
221 higher education described in Section 53B-2-101;
222 (iii) the number of students who graduate from a Utah public school and begin a
223 postsecondary education program; and
224 (iv) the number of students, as compared to all similarly situated students, who are
225 performing at grade level in STEM classes.
226 (b) The State Board of Education and the State Board of Regents shall provide
227 information to the board to assist the board in complying with the requirements of Subsection
228 (4)(a) if allowed under federal law.
229 Section 4. Section 63N-12-209 is amended to read:
230 63N-12-209. STEM education endorsements and incentive program.
231 (1) The State Board of Education shall collaborate with the STEM Action Center to:
232 (a) develop STEM education endorsements; and
233 (b) create and implement financial incentives for:
234 (i) an educator to earn an elementary or secondary STEM education endorsement
235 described in Subsection (1)(a); and
236 (ii) a school district or a charter school to have STEM endorsed educators on staff.
237 (2) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
238 State Board of Education shall make rules [
239 education [
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241 (a) an incentive for an educator to take a course leading to a STEM education
242 endorsement may only be given for a course that carries higher-education credit; and
243 (b) a school district or a charter school may consider a STEM education endorsement
244 as part of an educator's salary schedule.
245 Section 5. Section 63N-12-210 is amended to read:
246 63N-12-210. Acquisition of STEM education high quality professional
247 development.
248 (1) The STEM Action Center shall, through a request for proposals process, select
249 technology providers for the purpose of providing a STEM education high quality professional
250 development application.
251 (2) The high quality professional development application described in Subsection (1)
252 shall:
253 (a) allow the State Board of Education, a school district, or a school to define the
254 application's input and track results of the high quality professional development;
255 (b) allow educators to access automatic tools, resources, and strategies , including
256 instructional materials with integrated STEM content ;
257 (c) allow educators to work in online learning communities, including giving and
258 receiving feedback via uploaded video;
259 (d) track and report data on the usage of the components of the application's system
260 and the relationship to improvement in classroom instruction;
261 (e) include video examples of highly effective STEM education teaching that:
262 (i) cover a cross section of grade levels and subjects;
263 (ii) under the direction of the State Board of Education, include videos of highly
264 effective Utah STEM educators; and
265 (iii) contain tools to help educators implement what they have learned; and
266 (f) allow for additional STEM education video content to be added.
267 (3) In addition to the high quality professional development application described in
268 Subsections (1) and (2), the STEM Action Center may create STEM education hybrid or
269 blended high quality professional development that allows for face-to-face applied learning.
270 Section 6. Section 63N-12-212 is amended to read:
271 63N-12-212. High school STEM education initiative.
272 (1) Subject to legislative appropriations, after consulting with State Board of Education
273 staff, the STEM Action Center shall award grants to school districts and charter schools to fund
274 STEM related certification for high school students.
275 (2) (a) A school district or charter school may apply for a grant from the STEM Action
276 Center, through a competitive process, to fund the school district's or charter school's STEM
277 related certification training program.
278 (b) A school district's or charter school's STEM related certification training program
279 shall:
280 (i) prepare high school students to be job ready for available STEM related positions of
281 employment; and
282 (ii) when a student completes the program, result in the student gaining [
283 an industry-recognized employer STEM related certification.
284 (3) A school district or charter school may partner with one or more of the following to
285 provide a STEM related certification program:
286 (a) a Utah College of Applied Technology college campus;
287 (b) Salt Lake Community College;
288 (c) Snow College; [
289 (d) Utah State University Eastern; or
290 [