53A-6-802. Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship Program.
(1) The Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship Program is created to award scholarships to
paraeducators for education and training to become licensed teachers.
(2) The State Board of Education shall use money appropriated for the Paraeducator to
Teacher Scholarship Program to award scholarships of up to $5,000 to paraeducators employed
by school districts and charter schools who are pursuing an associate's degree or bachelor's
degree program to become a licensed teacher.
(3) A paraeducator is eligible to receive a scholarship if:
(a) the paraeducator is employed by a school district or charter school;
(b) is admitted to, or has made an application to, an associate's degree program or
bachelor's degree program that will prepare the paraeducator for teacher licensure; and
(c) the principal at the school where the paraeducator is employed has nominated the
paraeducator for a scholarship.
(4) (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a committee to select scholarship
recipients from nominations submitted by school principals.
(b) The committee shall include representatives of the State Board of Education, State
Board of Regents, and the general public, excluding school district and charter school employees.
(c) (i) (A) A committee member who is not a government employee may not receive
compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and expenses
incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the
Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
(B) A member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for the member's service.
(ii) (A) A committee member who is a government employee member who does not
receive salary, per diem, or expenses from the agency the member represents for the member's
service may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official
duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and
63A-3-107.
(B) A government employee member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for
the member's service.
(d) The committee shall select scholarship recipients based on the following criteria:
(i) test scores, grades, or other evidence demonstrating the applicant's ability to
successfully complete a teacher education program; and
(ii) the applicant's record of success as a paraeducator.
(5) The maximum scholarship amount is $5,000.
(6) Scholarship monies may only be used to pay for tuition costs:
(a) of:
(i) an associate's degree program that fulfills credit requirements for the first two years of
a bachelor's degree program leading to teacher licensure; or
(ii) the first two years of a bachelor's degree program leading to teacher licensure; and
(b) at a higher education institution:
(i) located in Utah; and
(ii) accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
(7) A scholarship recipient must be continuously employed as a paraeducator by a school
district or charter school while pursuing a degree using scholarship monies.
(8) The State Board of Education shall make rules in accordance with this section and
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to administer the Paraeducator to
Teacher Scholarship Program, including rules establishing:
(a) scholarship application procedures;
(b) the number of, and qualifications for, committee members who select scholarship
recipients; and
(c) procedures for distributing scholarship monies.
Enacted by Chapter 144, 2008 General Session
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Last revised: Thursday, May 28, 2009