FY 2016 Appropriation

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 Basic School Program and approximately 50 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. For example, a third grade student enrolled for 495 hours would generate half of an ADM student.

Charter schools receive WPUs under the Grades 1-12 program differently than school districts. Statute, 53A-1a-513, states that charter school students "shall be weighted as follows: .55 for kindergarten pupils; .9 for pupils in grades 1 through 6; .99 for pupils in grades 7 through 8; and 1.2 for pupils in grades 9 through 12."

Funding History

Funding Issues

1 Percent WPU Value Increase

It costs approximately $26 million for each 1 percent increase or decrease in the WPU Value. Programs impacted include: The Basic School Program (all WPUs), Pupil Transportation, Concurrent Enrollment, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Enhancement for Accelerated Students in the Related to Basic School Program.

Enrollment Growth

Total enrollment in the public education system is projected to increase by 7,951 students in FY 2016, with a total enrollment of 630,104. Additional students in the system increases the cost to certain programs as designated by statute or legislative precedent. Adjustments are made in the following programs based on consensus enrollment and WPU estimates: Basic School Program: $24,284,600 Funds an additional 8,380 WPUs in FY 2016. Related to Basic School Program: $10,698,800 Provides a 1.3% increase to the following programs: Pupil Transportation, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Adult Education, Enhancement for Accelerated Students, and Concurrent Enrollment. Provides an increase of $4,459,600 to the Local Replacement and $83,200 to the Administrative Cost programs for charter schools. Finally, increases th eamount for the Educator Salary Adjustment by $3,429,500 to account for additional teachers hired by LEAs in fall 2014. Voted & Board Local Levy: $23,023,600 Adjusts funding levels to provide the state guarante rate for all qualifying WPUs. Increases the state guarantee rate as provided in statute from $27.92 per WPU to $30.11 per WPU. The total local property tax revenue contribution to the cost of the Basic School Program is expected to increase by $8,462,600 in FY 2016. This amount works as an off-set to the total increased cost of the Basic School Program above.

Enrollment Growth - Charter School Pupil Accounting Extension

The Governor recommends continuing to determine charter school WPUs by using the higher of Prior-Year Plus Growth or Fall Enrollment methodology for one year. The statute that allows the "higher of" option expires at the end of FY 2015. This will increase the number of WPUs in the Basic School Program by 1,942.
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $1,740,251,800 from all sources for Grades 1 - 12. This is a 5.5 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $1,360,079,500 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 0.5 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Enrollment Growth$17,680,300$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$9,217,700$0Education Fund
$8,462,600$0Local Revenue
Total enrollment in the public education system is projected to increase by 7,951 students in FY 2016, with a total enrollment of 630,104. Additional students in the system increases the cost to certain programs as designated by statute or legislative precedent. Adjustments are made in the following programs based on consensus enrollment and WPU estimates: Basic School Program: $24,284,600 Funds an additional 8,380 WPUs in FY 2016. Related to Basic School Program: $10,698,800 Provides a 1.3% increase to the following programs: Pupil Transportation, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Adult Education, Enhancement for Accelerated Students, and Concurrent Enrollment. Provides an increase of $4,459,600 to the Local Replacement and $83,200 to the Administrative Cost programs for charter schools. Finally, increases th eamount for the Educator Salary Adjustment by $3,429,500 to account for additional teachers hired by LEAs in fall 2014. Voted & Board Local Levy: $23,023,600 Adjusts funding levels to provide the state guarante rate for all qualifying WPUs. Increases the state guarantee rate as provided in statute from $27.92 per WPU to $30.11 per WPU. The total local property tax revenue contribution to the cost of the Basic School Program is expected to increase by $8,462,600 in FY 2016. This amount works as an off-set to the total increased cost of the Basic School Program above.
Enrollment Growth - Charter School Pupil Accounting Extension$5,186,200$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$5,186,200$0Education Fund
The Governor recommends continuing to determine charter school WPUs by using the higher of Prior-Year Plus Growth or Fall Enrollment methodology for one year. The statute that allows the "higher of" option expires at the end of FY 2015. This will increase the number of WPUs in the Basic School Program by 1,942.
WPU Value Increase (4%)$67,538,900$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$67,538,900$0Education Fund
It costs approximately $26 million for each 1 percent increase or decrease in the WPU Value. Programs impacted include: The Basic School Program (all WPUs), Pupil Transportation, Concurrent Enrollment, Enhancement for At-Risk Students, Youth-in-Custody, Enhancement for Accelerated Students in the Related to Basic School Program.
Statute

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 R277-419 for more detail.

Intent Language

HB0002: Item 1

The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education develop minimum program standards, including maximum class size limits in grades K-3, that local education agencies must meet in order to continue to receive Class Size Reduction funding. Including an estimate of the cost necessary to limit class sizes in grades K-3, without impacting class sizes in grades 4-12. The Legislature also intends that the State Board of Education report these standards and estimated costs to the Education Interim Committee and the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee by October 31, 2015.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.