The K-3 Reading Improvement Program discussed in the Related to Basic School Program also includes a local property tax component to provide a local match to state funding. Generated property tax revenue, when combined with the state allocation in the Related to Basic School Program, supports a school district's reading improvement plan. The goal of the program is to have students reading at grade level by the end of the third grade.
There are three programs in the Reading Improvement Program: the Base Level Program; the Guarantee Program, and the Low Income Students Program. To fully participate in the Guarantee Program, a school district shall allocate to the program an amount equal to the amount of revenue that would be generated by a tax rate of 0.000056 for each program. To fully participate in the Low Income Students program, a school district shall allocate to the program an amount equal to the amount of revenue that would be generated by a tax rate of 0.000065. A school district must fully participate in one program before it may elect to participate in the other program.
If for three consecutive years an LEA fails to meet its reading goals, the local board shall terminate any tax levy imposed and may not receive money appropriated by the Legislature for the K-3 Reading Improvement Program.
Please refer to the K-3 Reading Improvement Program in the Related to Basic School Program for more information on the program.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $15,000,000 from all sources for Board Local Levy Program - Reading Improvement. This is a 0 percent change from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources.
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.