FY 2016 Appropriation

During the 2011 General Session, the Legislature consolidated several programs into the Enhancement for At-Risk Students. This consolidation took effect at the beginning of FY 2012 and is intended to simplify the number of at-risk programs within the Minimum School Program. Funding is used by schools to "improve the academic achievement of students who are at risk of academic failure"(House Bill 2, 2011 General Session).

Programs consolidated into the Enhancement program include: Interventions for Student Success Block Grant, Highly Impacted Schools, and English Language Learner Family Literacy Centers. Programs within the Youth At-Risk Programs were divided into two categories. The Gang Prevention, Homeless & Disadvantaged Minority, Math Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA), and the At-Risk Regular Program are now part of the Enhancement for At-Risk Students. Youth-in-Custody remains an independent program to maintain program transparency and accountability.

This consolidation removed all prior program definitions, restrictions, and objectives. The State Board of Education was directed by the Legislature to develop a formula to distribute the funding to school districts and charter schools. In addition, the State Board of Education "shall develop performance criteria to measure the effectiveness of the Enhancement for At-Risk Students Program and make an annual report to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee on the effectiveness of the program" (House Bill 2, 2011 General Session).

The Legislature directed the State Board of Education to use several factors in distributing funding to school districts and charter schools. These factors include: low performance on U-PASS tests, poverty, mobility, and limited English Proficiency.

The statute also directs $1.2 million to support gang prevention activities. School districts and charter schools may apply to the State Board of Education to receive an allocation under this program.

Funding History

Funding Issues

At Risk Funding

Funding will provide for increased interventions for students learning English as a second language, students living in poverty, homeless stduents, and students underperforming on state assessments. Included in this request is $600,000 to fund the MESA program (math/science programs for girls and minority students).

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, $25,681,000 from all sources for Enhancement for At-Risk Students. This is a 5.4 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $25,681,000 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$316,900$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$316,900$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%)$987,700$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$987,700$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 requires the State Board of Education to report annually to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee on the effectiveness of the program. Board rule requires school districts and charter schools to annually report "the following performance criteria for students at-risk of academic failure: (1) student attendance information as defined by the USOE; (2) graduation rate; (3) gains in language proficiency as measured by Utah Academic Language Proficiency Assessment (UALPA); (4) gains in reading/language arts proficiency as measured by Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRT); and (5) gains in mathematics proficiency as measured by CRT" (Board Rule R277-708-4).

Statute

The following statute was passed during the 2011 General Session and governs the Enhancement for At-Risk Students Program.

  • UCA 53A-17a-166 -- details the Enhancement for At-Risk Students program, including objective, funding distribution, restrictions, and reporting

Administrative Rule R277-708 was passed by the State Board of Education. The rule includes the program formula and accountability provisions required by the Legislature.

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.

Please refer to the individual programs identified above for historical funding. The amount appropriated in FY 2012 includes the total ongoing funding for each program found in the FY 2011 budget, including $4,518,707 from Highly Impacted Schools, $9,383,641 from At-Risk Students, $1,764,000 from English Language Learning Family Literacy Centers, and $6,765,925 from the Interventions for Student Success Block Grant.

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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.