FY 2016 Appropriation

The Concurrent Enrollment program was established to enable high school students to complete high school graduation requirements and earn college credit at the same time. Most often, students participate in the program during their senior year in high school. As college-level courses, concurrent classes provide students the ability to do advanced work during high school. College credits earned through the programs "shall be accepted for transfer of credit purposes as if they had been obtained at any public institution of higher education within the state system" (UCA 53A-15-101).

Statute requires courses to be taught by college or university faculty. Public school educators may also teach concurrent courses if they are approved as an adjunct faculty member at one of the state's colleges or universities.

During the 2007 General Session, the Legislature passed House Bill 79 "Concurrent Enrollment Amendments" which separated concurrent enrollment from the other Accelerated Learning programs. Establishing the Concurrent Enrollment as its own categorical program assists Legislators in tracking appropriations over time and adjusting program funding levels independent of other accelerated learning programs.

In addition to creating a new categorical program, H.B. 79 requires that the annual appropriation for Concurrent Enrollment programs increase each year based on the increase in the value of the WPU. The bill also adjusted the distribution formula for allocating revenues to school districts and higher education institutions.

Formula -- Appropriated revenue is shared between the public and higher education systems. Statute requires that 60 percent of appropriated revenues be allocated to local school districts and charter schools. The remaining 40 percent is allocated to the State Board of Regents for distribution to participating colleges and universities.

Funding History

Funding Issues

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.
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $9,766,700 from all sources for Concurrent Enrollment. This is a 5.4 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $9,766,700 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 5.4 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$120,500$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$120,500$0Education Fund
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.
WPU Value Increase (4%)$375,600$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$375,600$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

The following statutes govern the Concurrent Enrollment Program.

  • UCA 53A-15-101 -- details the cooperation between the State Board of Education and the State Board of Regents in providing higher education courses in the public schools.
  • UCA 53A-17a-120.5 -- details the distribution of revenue appropriated to support the Concurrent Enrollment program.

Intent Language

HB0002: Item 2

The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education review the Pupil Transportation Allocation Formula and recommend ways to improve the formula to increase efficiency, simplify allocation methodology to school districts, and provide incentives for alternative transportation methods. The Legislature further intends that the State Board of Education report its recommendations to the Education Interim Committee and the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee by October 31, 2015.

HB0002: Item 2

The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education and State Board of Regents provide joint recommendations on how to ensure that each concurrent enrollment course is taught by a qualified instructor, that credits earned by students count towards major and minor degree requirements at state colleges and universities, and that students are advised on the transferability of credits to private and out of state institutions. The Legislature also intends that these recommendations be reported to the Education Interim Committee and the Public Education Appropriations Committee 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.