Fiscal Highlights - June 2014

Leasing of SAGE Online Adaptive Test Questions - Ben Leishman ( PDF)

The State of Florida has requested to use Utah's SAGE (Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence) test questions for the next three years.  Florida is in the process of developing an online computer-adaptive assessment system similar to SAGE and will use Utah's questions until their system is fully developed.  Utah and Florida are using the same contractor, the American Institutes for Research (AIR), to assist in the development of both systems. 

Through the agreement, Utah will provide AIR with the rights to use the Utah owned questions in Florida.  Utah will receive $1.50 per student for each question used in Florida.  Based on current estimates, Utah may receive approximately $5.4 million a year, or $16.2 million over the three-year contract. In exchange for the right to use Utah's questions, AIR will reduce its contract costs for the SAGE system.  This reduction in contract costs will result in higher nonlapsing balances in the Utah State Office of Education line item for the next three years.

The Utah State Board of Education presented details on this agreement to the Executive Appropriations Committee during its June 17, 2014 meeting. Additional information on this issue can be found in the brief titled "Leasing of SAGE Online Adaptive Test Questions."    

June 2014 Content ( PDF)

A New Era Begins At USTAR - Zackery N. King
On May 21, 2014, during Extraordinary Session #6, the Senate confirmed Governor Herbert's appointme...
Autism Pilot in the Department of Health: Past and Future - Russell T. Frandsen
After two years of two pilot programs providing autism services, the Department of Health received ...
Capital Improvement Funding - Mark Bleazard
The Legislature annually appropriates funds to the capital improvements line item in the capital bu...
Drug Courts - Stephen C. Jardine
Total FY 2015 state funding for drug courts is $4,972,900. Drug court funding is distributed by a m...
FY 2015 Custom Fit Allocations - Angela J. Oh
The Custom Fit program administered by the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) supports econo...
Getting Closer on PED Property Tax Estimates - Thomas E. Young
Every year leading up to the General Session staff presents you with public education estimates tha...
Leasing of SAGE Online Adaptive Test Questions - Ben Leishman
The State of Florida has requested to use Utah's SAGE (Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence)...
PEHP Autism Treatment Pilot - Brian D. Fay
In the 2012 General Session, the Legislature passed H.B. 272, Pilot Program for Autism Spectrum Dis...
Pew Findings - Utah Prison Cost Drivers - Gary R. Syphus
In February of 2014, state leaders requested that the Pew Charitable Trusts' Public Safety Performa...
Revenue Surplus Anticipated - Andrea Wilko
Consensus estimates indicate that General Fund/Education Fund collections will end FY 2014 between ...
This Is The Place Heritage Park - Ivan D. Djambov
This Is The Place Heritage Park was established in 1957, and it was managed by the Division of Park...
USHE Joins Multi-State Collaboration to Improve Education - Spencer C. Pratt
The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) is joining 12 other higher education systems from across...
What is the Judicial Conduct Commission and Where Can I Find Its Budget? - Gary K. Ricks
The Judicial Conduct Commission is established by the State Constitution, Article VIII, Section 13....

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