H.B. 397 Enrolled

INCENTIVES FOR ELEMENTARY READING PERFORMANCE
2000 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Ron Bigelow
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; CREATING A READING PERFORMANCE
IMPROVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ASSIST SELECTED ELEMENTARY
TEACHERS IN OBTAINING A READING ENDORSEMENT; PROVIDING A $9,000
APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
REPEALS AND REENACTS:
53A-3-402.11, as enacted by Chapter 340, Laws of Utah 1999
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-3-402.11 is repealed and reenacted to read:
53A-3-402.11. Reading Performance Improvement Scholarship Program.
(1) There is established a Reading Performance Improvement Scholarship Program to assist
selected elementary teachers in obtaining a reading endorsement so that they may help improve the
reading performance of students in their classes.
(2) The State Board of Education shall award scholarships of up to $500 to each recipient
under the program.
(3) The board shall give weighted consideration to scholarship applicants who:
(a) teach in grades kindergarten through three;
(b) are designated by their schools as, or are seeking the designation of, reading specialist;
and
(c) teach in a rural area of the state.
(4) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
board shall provide by rule for:
(a) the application procedure for the scholarship; and
(b) what constitutes a reading specialist at the elementary school level.
(5) The board shall provide the Legislature, through its Education Interim Committee, and

the governor with an annual evaluation of the program, together with recommendations for
continuance or expansion of the program.
Section 2. Appropriation.
There is appropriated from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2000-01, $9,000 to the
State Board of Education to fund the Reading Performance Improvement Scholarship Program
established under Section 53A-3-402.11 .
Section 3. Effective date.
This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.

- 2 -