FY 2016 Appropriation

The program provides additional contract days for special education teachers in order to meet the added duties and responsibilities associated with complying with state and federal regulations. Educators can use additional work days to perform duties associated with the student IEP (individualized education program) process, administering student assessments, conferring with parents, maintaining records and preparing reports. This program was created by the Legislature during the 2008 General Session.

Program participation is voluntary for special educators and is restricted to educators working in the positions of special education teacher and speech-language pathologist. Teachers may receive a $200 stipend per additional day of work (up to a maximum of 10 days). In addition to the stipend, the Legislature appropriated funding to cover the employer-paid benefit costs of retirement, workers' compensation, Social Security, and Medicare. Participating teachers are required to pay all personal payroll deductions as they do with their current base salary.

Formula -- The State Board of Education will annually review the program and determine, based on the annual appropriation, the total number of extended contract days that can be funded. School districts and charter schools will receive funding based on the total number of qualifying teachers multiplied by the total number of contract days. Teachers not working full-time in a special education position may receive a partial stipend.

Funding History
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $0 from all sources for Extended Year for Special Educators. This is a 0 percent change from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources.

Statute

The following statute governs the Extended-Year for Special Educators.

  • UCA 53A-17a-158 -- outlines the Extended-Year for Special Educators program including provisions governing the use of additional contract days, qualifying educators, and the dollar amount of daily stipends.

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.

This program was moved to the Basic School Program in FY 2012. Specifically, the program was consolidated into the Special Education - State Programs line. Please refer to this line for funding levels. The program was assigned 909 Weighted Pupil Units and remains a separate component of the Special Education - State Programs line. The statutory authorization for the program did not change.

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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.