FY 2016 Appropriation

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Add-on program provides funding to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to pay for the higher costs associated with CTE courses. Add-on programs in the Minimum School Program (MSP) provide funding in addition to the regular Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) generated by an enrolled student. Program funding only supports CTE courses approved by the State Board of Education and provided directly by an LEA or by an external provider contracted by the LEA.

Formula - Formulas for the CTE Add-on program are unique because the method used to calculate program cost (WPUs) is different than the method used to distribute program funding to LEAs. State statute (53A-17a-113) and State Board of Education rule (R277-911) govern the program. The current CTE formula was developed in the 1995 General Session.

Determining Cost - Like most WPU programs, the CTE Add-on program uses a prior-year plus growth formula to determine the number of WPUs each year. Prior year means the membership hours of students enrolled in CTE courses during the prior school year. The growth factor applies if an LEA's enrollment in grades 9-12 exceeds one percent over the previous year up to a maximum of 10 percent. If CTE membership hours decline, the LEA is held harmless.

WPUs generated by the program formula are multiplied by the Add-on WPU Value determined by the Legislature each year.

Distributing Funding - Funding appropriated for the CTE Add-on program is allocated to LEAs based on a two-step process. First, certain CTE programs or functions receive funding based on provisions outlined in statute and Board rule. Second, funding that remains after step one is distributed to LEAs based on average daily membership in approved CTE programs for the previous year.

Programs or functions receiving an initial allocation include: Comprehensive Guidance, Work Based Learning, CTE Introduction, Skill Certification (Competency), Student Leadership Organizations, and Summer Agriculture Programs.

Beginning in FY 2012, the Legislature adopted a lower WPU Value for Add-on programs in the MSP. This lower Add-on WPU Value was created to aviod significant program funding increases associated with funding transfers within the program. The Legislature moved funding from categorical programs in the Related to Basic School Program into the WPU Value. Because all WPU programs benefit from WPU Value increases, this influx of funding into the Basic School Program would have taken a significant amount of unrestricted funding to LEAs and placed it into restricted programs. The overall funding for the Add-on programs did not decrease as the lower Add-on WPU remained at the prior-year value. In FY 2013 and FY 2014, the Legislature increased both the primary and Add-on WPU values by the same percentage.

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, $85,351,100 from all sources for Career and Technical Education - Add-on. This is a 5.4 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $85,351,100 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 5.4 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

The following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Enrollment Growth$1,035,900$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$1,035,900$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%)$3,339,400$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$3,339,400$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 Career and Technology Education Add-On program is governed by the following statute.

  • UCA 53A-17a-113 -- establishes the method for calculating WPUs for CTE programs as well as qualifying criteria and performance measures.

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.

State funds appropriated through the CTE Add-on program provide for district operated career and technical education courses. Students may also opt to participate in courses provided through the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT). Payment of these courses is reflected in the UCAT budget.

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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.