Agency: MSP - Basic School Program

Line Item: Regular Basic School Program

Function

Regular Basic School Program represents a general grouping of programs that support the day-to-day operations of school districts and charter schools. As such, these programs provide funding for educational programs directed to all students, have general distribution formulas, and provide largely un-restricted operating revenue to a school district or charter school. Regular Basic School Programs include funding for Kindergarten, Grades 1-12, Professional Staff, Administrative Costs, and Necessarily Existent Small Schools.

Funding Detail

Program: Kindergarten

Function

The kindergarten program provides revenues to school districts and charter schools to support educational services provided through half-day kindergarten programs. The state core curriculum for kindergarten identifies key concepts in kindergarten instruction, 'in kindergarten, reading, writing, and mathematical sills should be emphasized as integral to the instruction in all other areas. […] Kindergarten students engage in many activities that help them develop oral language and literacy. Students take part in language activities that extend their vocabulary, conceptual knowledge, and phonological awareness. Students learn to follow directions and develop the language of schooling' (USOE Elementary Core Curriculum, May 2003). In addition to the educational skills learned in kindergarten, students develop social skills associated with functioning in a school setting.

Formula - The state distributes kindergarten funds on a WPU basis. A kindergarten WPU equals 0.55 of a total WPU. The formula distributes funding to school districts and charter schools on per WPU basis, 'which equals prior year Kindergarten ADM [Average Daily Membership] plus growth multiplied by 0.55. The weight of 0.55 reflects the fact that kindergarten in Utah normally is in session for approximately half of a normal school day' (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006). Kindergarten ADM represents one student enrolled in a kindergarten program for at least 450 hours within a school year.

Statutory Authority

Two sections of Utah code apply specifically to kindergarten programs offered in the school districts and charter schools.

• UCA 53A-3-402.7 - requires each school district to offer kindergarten classes for children residing in the school district and provides that these students receive funding allocated through the MSP.

• UCA 53A-17a-106 - establishes the 0.55 weighting used in the formula for computing kindergarten WPUs.

The State Board of Education has passed administrative rules that define kindergarten programs. The governing rule may be found in Administrative Rules R277-419-1.

Funding Detail

In FY 2009, the Legislature allocated 25,294 WPUs to support Kindergarten. The number of WPUs increased in FY 2010 to 26,552. Total funding amounts for each year are detailed in the table below.

Program: Grades 1 - 12

Function

The Grades 1 through 12 Program is the largest single program within the Minimum School Program. Funding supports educational services provided by school districts and charter schools in the first through twelfth grade. Educational services include educator compensation, textbooks, supplies, materials, support personnel, and many other functions, people and programs that support the basic education programs in these grades.

Formula - Funding distributed through the program accounts for approximately 69 percent of the Regular Basic School Program and approximately 44 percent of the total MSP. School districts and charter schools receive funds on a WPU basis. Each WPU 'equals prior year Grades 1-12 ADM plus growth' (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006). WPUs allocated for the Grades 1-12 Program more closely reflects a 1 WPU to 1 student (ADM) match than any other MSP program.

The formula governing revenue distribution treats Grade 1 slightly different than Grades 2-12. 'To count as one full (1.0) ADM, a student in Grade 1 must be enrolled for at least 810 hours of instruction during the school year; student in Grades 2 through 12 must be similarly enrolled for 990 hours' (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006). Students enrolled less than the hours indicated are allocated prorated ADMs by the formula. A third grade student enrolled for 495 hours generates half of an ADM student.

Statutory Authority

Statute provides two sections that reference educational services provided in grades 1 through 12.

• UCA 53A-1-603 - requires the State Board of Education to develop assessment methods for students in grades 1 through 12.

• UCA 53A-17a-106 - establishes the mechanism used in determining WPUs for grades 1 through 12.

Through Administrative Rules, the State Board of Education has established instructional hour and WPU accounting guidelines for the Grades 1 through 12 Program. Please refer to Administrative Rule R277-413-3 more detail.

Funding Detail

In FY 2009, the Legislature allocated 488,263 WPUs to support Grades 1-12. The number of WPUs increased in FY 2010 to 501,093. Total funding amounts for each year are detailed in the table below.

Program: Professional Staff

Function

The Professional Staff Program provides additional revenue to school districts to support in 'recruiting and retaining highly educated and experienced educators for instructional, administrative and other types of professional employment in public schools' (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006).The program provides extra weighted pupil units for professional staff experience and training to offset the higher cost associated with these educators. School districts and charter schools may use program revenues in a variety of ways, which may include signing and retention bonuses.

Formula - By providing additional revenue for staff training and experience, the state recognizes the cost differential associated with more experienced educators. The program formula distributes revenue on a WPU basis to qualifying school districts and charter schools. Program WPUs are calculated as follows '(1) multiply the number of FTE licensed staff in each applicable experience category by the applicable weight, which is given in statute. (2) Divide the product from #1 by the number of licensed staff included in #1 and reduce the quotient by 1.00. (3) Multiply the result from #2 by one-fourth of the total WPUs generated by Kindergarten, Grades 1-12, and Necessarily Existent Small Schools programs' (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006). Statutory weightings may be found in UCA 53A-17a-107 and range from 1 WPU for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and one-year of service to 1.7 WPUs for a teacher with a doctorate degree and eleven-years of service.

Statutory Authority

The Professional Staff Program is governed by one statute within the Utah Code.

• UCA 53A-17a-107 - details how program WPUs are computed and distributed. This statute also provides the weighting schedule mentioned above and other regulations governing the program.

Administrative Rule R277-486 was passed by the State Board of Education. The rule provides administrative procedures associated with the governance of the Professional Staff Program.

Funding Detail

In FY 2009, the Legislature allocated 45,133 WPUs to support the Professional Staff Cost Formula. The number of WPUs increased in FY 2010 to 46,033. Total funding amounts for each year are detailed in the table below.

Program: Administrative Costs

Function

Program funding assists small school districts with administrative expenses. Districts may use the funds to support administrative functions, conduct audits, and prepare reports. In FY 2008, the Legislature created a charter specific administrative cost program. This program provides charter schools a per-student amount to cover administrative costs. With the creation of this program, charter schools no longer receive a distribution under the Administrative Cost program. In FY 2010, the Legislature revised the program formula, restricting funding to school districts with 5,000 students or less.

Formula - Qualifying school districts receive program revenues on a WPU basis. The formula contains a weighting mechanism which allocates more WPUs to districts with lower total student enrollment. Program funding does not cover all administrative costs. School districts may use additional revenue sources, including state, local and federal revenues to support administrative functions.

School districts qualify for program WPUs based on their total student enrollment. Statute provides an Administrative Cost Schedule that assigns WPUs based on district enrollment established through the October 1 enrollment count. The Administrative Cost Schedule provides the following enrollment benchmarks.

• 1 - 500 Students 95 WPUs

• 501 - 1,000 Students 80 WPUs

• 1,001 - 2,000 Students 70 WPUs

• 2,001 - 5,000 Students 60 WPUs

Statutory Authority

The Administrative Cost Program is governed by the following statute.

• UCA 53A-17a-108 - details the calculation of administrative cost WPUs for distribution to school districts. This statute also provides the enrollment thresholds for the Administrative Cost Schedule.

Funding Detail

In FY 2009, the Legislature allocated 1,620 WPUs to support the Administrative Cost Formula. The number of WPUs remained at 1,620 in FY 2010. Total funding amounts for each year are detailed in the table below.

Program: Necessarily Existent Small Schools

Function

The program assists school districts in operating schools in remote areas of the state and with low student populations, making these schools more expensive to operate. Schools meet necessarily existent standards if 'one-way bus travel over Board approved bus routes from the school to the nearest school within the district of the same type requires: students in kindergarten through grade six to travel more than 45 minutes; students in grades seven through twelve to travel more than one hour and 15 minutes' (Utah State Board of Education, R277-445-3). In addition to the distance requirement, schools must not exceed a maximum enrollment threshold based on the ADM of the school.

School Size Limits - A necessarily existent school does not exceed the following ADM thresholds.

• 160 ADM for elementary schools (including kindergarten)

• 300 ADM for one or two-year secondary schools

• 450 ADM for three-year secondary schools

• 550 ADM for four-year secondary schools

• 600 ADM for six-year secondary schools

Application Required - In order for a school to qualify for necessarily existent status, the school district must apply to the State Board of Education on behalf of the school. 'Upon application by each school district, the State Board of Education shall, in conjunction with local school boards, classify particular schools in each district as necessarily existent small schools' (UCA 53A-17a-109 ). Charter schools are not necessarily existent small schools and do not qualify for program funding.

Formula - Funding is allocated to a school district with qualifying schools on a WPU basis. Program WPUs are determined by 'a regression formula based on prior year ADM and school grade span' (USOE Finance & Statistics, MSP Descriptions, November 2006). The regression formula indicates that elementary schools that qualify for the program can receive a maximum per-school WPU amount of 54.8. WPU amounts for secondary schools range from 119.1 WPUs for 1 or 2 year secondary schools with a maximum ADM of 300 to 150.4 WPUs for a 6 year secondary school with a maximum ADM of 600.

Statutory Authority

The Necessarily Existent Small Schools Program is governed by the following statute.

• UCA 53A-17a-109 - establishes application, qualification, and WPU regulations for the governance of the Necessarily Existent Small Schools Program. Statute provides a mechanism that prevents financial penalties to a school district resulting from school consolidation efforts.

The State Board of Education has passed administrative rules to further govern the Necessarily Existent Small Schools Program. The governing rule may be found in Administrative Rules R277-445.

Funding Detail

In FY 2009, the Legislature allocated 7,649 WPUs to support Necessarily Existent Small Schools. The number of WPUs remained at 7,649 in FY 2010. Total funding amounts for each year are detailed in the table below.