This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 2:52 PM by cynthiahopkin.
1     
GRANTS FOR EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

5     
Senate Sponsor: Ann Millner

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     Committee Note:
9          The Education Interim Committee recommended this bill.
10     General Description:
11          This bill requires the State Board of Education to establish a professional learning grant
12     program.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This bill:
15          ▸     defines terms;
16          ▸     requires the State Board of Education to make rules to establish a professional
17     learning grant program;
18          ▸     provides requirements for the professional learning grant program; and
19          ▸     makes technical changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2017:
22          ▸     to State Board of Education -- Minimum School Program -- Related to Basic School
23     Program as an ongoing appropriation:
24               •     from the Education Fund, $30,000,000.
25     Other Special Clauses:
26          None
27     Utah Code Sections Affected:
28     AMENDS:
29          53A-1-710, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 446
30          53A-17a-162, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 12
31     ENACTS:
32          53A-15-1701, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33          53A-15-1702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34          53A-15-1704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35     RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
36          53A-15-1703, (Renumbered from 53A-3-701, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015,
37     Chapter 415)
38     REPEALS:
39          53A-17a-124, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 346
40     

41     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42          Section 1. Section 53A-1-710 is amended to read:
43          53A-1-710. Digital teaching and learning program task force -- Funding proposal
44     for a program -- Master plan -- Reporting requirements.
45          (1) As used in this section:
46          (a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
47          (b) "Core subject areas" means the following subject areas:
48          (i) English language arts;
49          (ii) mathematics;
50          (iii) science; and
51          (iv) social studies.
52          (c) "[High quality] Effective professional learning" means the professional learning
53     standards described in Section [53A-3-701] 53A-15-1703.
54          (d) "LEA plan" means an LEA's plan to implement a digital teaching and learning
55     program that meets requirements set by the board.
56          (e) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
57          (i) a school district;
58          (ii) a charter school; or
59          (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
60          (f) "Statewide assessment" means a test of student achievement in English language
61     arts, mathematics, or science, including a test administered in a computer adaptive format,
62     which is administered statewide under Part 6, Achievement Tests.
63          (g) "Utah Education and Telehealth Network" or "UETN" means the Utah Education
64     and Telehealth Network created in Section 53B-17-105.
65          (2) (a) The board shall establish a digital teaching and learning task force to develop a
66     funding proposal to present to the Legislature for digital teaching and learning in elementary
67     and secondary schools.
68          (b) The digital teaching and learning task force shall include representatives of:
69          (i) the board;
70          (ii) UETN;
71          (iii) LEAs; and
72          (iv) the Governor's Education Excellence Commission.
73          (3) (a) The board, in consultation with the digital teaching and learning task force
74     created in Subsection (2), shall create a funding proposal for a statewide digital teaching and
75     learning program designed to:
76          (i) improve student outcomes through the use of digital teaching and learning
77     technology; and
78          (ii) provide [high quality] effective professional learning for educators to improve
79     student outcomes through the use of digital teaching and learning technology.
80          (b) The board shall:
81          (i) identify outcome based metrics to measure student achievement related to a digital
82     teaching and learning program; and
83          (ii) develop minimum benchmark standards for student achievement and school level
84     outcomes to measure successful implementation of a digital teaching and learning program.
85          (4) As funding allows, the board shall develop a master plan for a statewide digital
86     teaching and learning program, including the following:
87          (a) a statement of purpose that describes the objectives or goals the board will
88     accomplish by implementing a digital teaching and learning program;
89          (b) a forecast for fundamental components needed to implement a digital teaching and
90     learning program, including a forecast for:
91          (i) student and teacher devices;
92          (ii) Wi-Fi and wireless compatible technology;
93          (iii) curriculum software;
94          (iv) assessment solutions;
95          (v) technical support;
96          (vi) change management of LEAs;
97          (vii) [high quality] effective professional learning;
98          (viii) Internet delivery and capacity; and
99          (ix) security and privacy of users;
100          (c) a determination of the requirements for:
101          (i) statewide technology infrastructure; and
102          (ii) local LEA technology infrastructure;
103          (d) standards for [high quality] effective professional learning related to implementing
104     and maintaining a digital teaching and learning program;
105          (e) a statewide technical support plan that will guide the implementation and
106     maintenance of a digital teaching and learning program, including standards and competency
107     requirements for technical support personnel;
108          (f) (i) a grant program for LEAs; or
109          (ii) a distribution formula to fund LEA digital teaching and learning programs;
110          (g) in consultation with UETN, an inventory of the state public education system's
111     current technology resources and other items and a plan to integrate those resources into a
112     digital teaching and learning program;
113          (h) an ongoing evaluation process that is overseen by the board;
114          (i) proposed rules that incorporate the principles of the master plan into the state's
115     public education system as a whole; and
116          (j) a plan to ensure long-term sustainability that:
117          (i) accounts for the financial impacts of a digital teaching and learning program; and
118          (ii) facilitates the redirection of LEA savings that arise from implementing a digital
119     teaching and learning program.
120          (5) UETN shall:
121          (a) in consultation with the board, conduct an inventory of the state public education
122     system's current technology resources and other items as determined by UETN, including
123     software;
124          (b) perform an engineering study to determine the technology infrastructure needs of
125     the public education system to implement a digital teaching and learning program, including
126     the infrastructure needed for the board, UETN, and LEAs; and
127          (c) as funding allows, provide infrastructure and technology support for school districts
128     and charter schools.
129          (6) On or before December 1, 2015, the board and UETN shall present the funding
130     proposal for a statewide digital teaching and learning program described in Subsection (3) to
131     the Education Interim Committee and the Executive Appropriations Committee, including:
132          (a) the board's progress on the development of a master plan described in Subsection
133     (4); and
134          (b) the progress of UETN on the inventory and study described in Subsection (5).
135          Section 2. Section 53A-15-1701 is enacted to read:
136     
Part 17. Educator Professional Learning

137          53A-15-1701. Title.
138          This part is known as "Educator Professional Learning."
139          Section 3. Section 53A-15-1702 is enacted to read:
140          53A-15-1702. Definitions.
141          As used in this part:
142          (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education established in Section 53A-1-101.
143          (2) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
144          (a) a school district;
145          (b) a charter school; or
146          (c) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
147          (3) "Professional learning" means a comprehensive, sustained, and evidence-based
148     approach to improving teachers' and principals' effectiveness in raising student achievement.
149          Section 4. Section 53A-15-1703, which is renumbered from Section 53A-3-701 is
150     renumbered and amended to read:
151          [53A-3-701].      53A-15-1703. Professional learning standards.
152          [(1) As used in this section, "professional learning" means a comprehensive, sustained,
153     and evidence-based approach to improving teachers' and principals' effectiveness in raising
154     student achievement.]
155          [(2)] (1) A school district or charter school shall implement [high quality] effective
156     professional learning that meets the following standards:
157          (a) professional learning occurs within learning communities committed to continuous
158     improvement, individual and collective responsibility, and goal alignment;
159          (b) professional learning requires skillful leaders who develop capacity, advocate, and
160     create support systems, for professional learning;
161          (c) professional learning requires prioritizing, monitoring, and coordinating resources
162     for educator learning;
163          (d) professional learning uses a variety of sources and types of student, educator, and
164     system data to plan, assess, and evaluate professional learning;
165          (e) professional learning integrates theories, research, and models of human learning to
166     achieve its intended outcomes;
167          (f) professional learning applies research on change and sustains support for
168     implementation of professional learning for long-term change;
169          (g) professional learning aligns its outcomes with:
170          (i) performance standards for teachers and school administrators as described in rules
171     of the [State Board of Education] board; and
172          (ii) performance standards for students as described in the core standards for Utah
173     public schools adopted by the [State Board of Education] board pursuant to Section
174     53A-1-402.6; and
175          (h) professional learning:
176          (i) incorporates the use of technology in the design, implementation, and evaluation of
177     [high quality] effective professional learning practices; and
178          (ii) includes targeted professional learning on the use of technology devices to enhance
179     the teaching and learning environment and the integration of technology in content delivery.
180          [(3)] (2) School districts and charter schools shall use money appropriated by the
181     Legislature for professional learning or federal grant money awarded for professional learning
182     to implement professional learning that meets the standards specified in Subsection [(2)] (1).
183          [(4)] (3) (a) In the fall of 2014, the [State Board of Education] board, through the state
184     superintendent of public instruction, and in collaboration with an independent consultant
185     acquired through a competitive bid process, shall conduct a statewide survey of school districts
186     and charter schools to:
187          (i) determine the current state of professional learning for educators as aligned with the
188     standards specified in Subsection [(2)] (1);
189          (ii) determine the effectiveness of current professional learning practices; and
190          (iii) identify resources to implement professional learning as described in Subsection
191     [(2)] (1).
192          (b) The [State Board of Education] board shall select a consultant from bidders who
193     have demonstrated successful experience in conducting a statewide analysis of professional
194     learning.
195          (c) (i) Annually in the fall, beginning in 2015 through 2020, the [State Board of
196     Education] board, through the state superintendent of public instruction, in conjunction with
197     school districts and charter schools, shall gather and use data to determine the impact of
198     professional learning efforts and resources.
199          (ii) Data used to determine the impact of professional learning efforts and resources
200     under Subsection [(4)] (3)(c)(i) shall include:
201          (A) student achievement data;
202          (B) educator evaluation data; and
203          (C) survey data.
204          Section 5. Section 53A-15-1704 is enacted to read:
205          53A-15-1704. Professional learning grant program.
206          (1) In accordance with this section and Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
207     Rulemaking Act, the board shall make rules to establish a qualifying professional learning
208     grant program.
209          (2) To request a professional learning grant, an LEA shall prepare a professional
210     learning plan that:
211          (a) outlines the LEA's professional learning goals and demonstrates how the LEA will
212     support the goals over time through:
213          (i) the use of a learning community described in Section 53A-15-1703; and
214          (ii) other methods;
215          (b) describes the LEA's targeted outcomes, based on the LEA's:
216          (i) analysis of student data; and
217          (ii) evaluation of educator knowledge and skills;
218          (c) integrates the professional learning standards described in Section 53A-15-1703;
219          (d) includes an evaluation method to optimize effectiveness that:
220          (i) measures student growth;
221          (ii) requires observation of educator practice; and
222          (iii) includes educator feedback;
223          (e) is developed in collaboration with teachers, principals, and other educators; and
224          (f) incorporates a strategy for compensation, where appropriate, of professional
225     learning participants.
226          (3) An LEA shall submit a professional learning plan described in Subsection (2) to the
227     board on or before July 1 immediately preceding the school year for which the LEA is seeking
228     funding.
229          (4) In accordance with Subsection (5), the board shall determine:
230          (a) procedures for approving an LEA professional learning plan;
231          (b) qualifying criteria for an LEA to receive a grant; and
232          (c) a distribution formula to award a grant that funds an LEA's approved professional
233     learning plan.
234          (5) The board shall award a grant to fund an LEA learning plan if the plan meets the
235     qualifying criteria described in Subsection (4)(b) and prioritizes the following objectives, as
236     applicable, based on student data:
237          (a) improved mathematics instruction, particularly for grades 4 through 8;
238          (b) reading intervention for secondary students;
239          (c) improved data collection and analysis;
240          (d) providing quality feedback on educator instruction;
241          (e) multi-tiered systems of support for a student who:
242          (i) is learning English;
243          (ii) needs accommodations as described in an individualized education program
244     prepared in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec.
245     1400 et seq.; or
246          (iii) requires accelerated learning strategies; and
247          (f) use of a learning community that:
248          (i) collaborates to focus on student learning;
249          (ii) identifies and prioritizes essential skills within curriculum;
250          (iii) improves formative assessment data analysis and reporting;
251          (iv) provides targeted interventions and timely extension opportunities; and
252          (v) supports school leaders to provide quality feedback on:
253          (A) classroom instruction;
254          (B) student learning; and
255          (C) learning community performance.
256          (6) On or before June 1 of the school year for which an LEA received a grant described
257     in this section, the LEA shall submit a report to the board that provides student and educator
258     data analyzed to show the effectiveness of the LEA's professional learning plan.
259          (7) On or before December 1 of each year, the board shall report to the Education
260     Interim Committee regarding:
261          (a) the results of the professional learning grant program Ĥ→ [, based on:] ; and
262          [(i) student achievement data;
263          (ii) educator evaluation data; and
264          (iii) survey data; and] ←Ĥ
265          (b) statewide improvement in professional learning practices based on the professional
266     learning standards described in Section 53A-15-1703.
267          Section 6. Section 53A-17a-162 is amended to read:
268          53A-17a-162. Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program.
269          (1) As used in this section:
270          (a) "Endowed chair" means a person who holds an endowed position or administrator
271     of an endowed program for the purpose of arts and integrated arts instruction at an endowed
272     university.
273          (b) "Endowed university" means an institution of higher education in the state that:
274          (i) awards elementary education degrees in arts instruction;
275          (ii) has received a major philanthropic donation for the purpose of arts and integrated
276     arts instruction; and
277          (iii) has created an endowed position as a result of a donation described in Subsection
278     (1)(b)(ii).
279          (c) "Integrated arts advocate" means a person who:
280          (i) advocates for arts and integrated arts instruction in the state; and
281          (ii) coordinates with an endowed chair pursuant to the agreement creating the endowed
282     chair.
283          (d) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
284          (i) a school district;
285          (ii) a charter school; or
286          (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
287          (2) The Legislature finds that a strategic placement of arts in elementary education can
288     impact the critical thinking of students in other core subject areas, including mathematics,
289     reading, and science.
290          (3) The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program is created to
291     enhance the social, emotional, academic, and arts learning of students in kindergarten through
292     grade six by integrating arts teaching and learning into core subject areas and providing
293     professional development for positions that support elementary arts and integrated arts
294     education.
295          (4) From money appropriated for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts
296     Learning Program, and subject to Subsection (5), the State Board of Education shall, after
297     consulting with endowed chairs and the integrated arts advocate and receiving their
298     recommendations, administer a grant program to enable LEAs to:
299          (a) hire highly qualified arts specialists, art coordinators, and other positions that
300     support arts education and arts integration;
301          (b) provide up to $10,000 in one-time funds for each new school arts specialist
302     described under Subsection (4)(a) to purchase supplies and equipment; and
303          (c) engage in other activities that improve the quantity and quality of integrated arts
304     education.
305          (5) (a) An LEA that receives a grant under Subsection (4) shall provide matching funds
306     of no less than 20% of the grant amount, including no less than 20% of the grant amount for
307     actual salary and benefit costs per full-time equivalent position funded under Subsection (4)(a).
308          (b) An LEA may not:
309          (i) include administrative, facility, or capital costs to provide the matching funds
310     required under Subsection (5)(a); or
311          (ii) use funds from the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program to
312     supplant funds for existing programs.
313          (6) An LEA that receives a grant under this section shall partner with an endowed chair
314     to provide professional development in integrated elementary arts education.
315          (7) From money appropriated for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts
316     Learning Program, the State Board of Education shall administer a grant program to fund
317     activities within arts and the integrated arts programs at an endowed university in the college
318     where the endowed chair resides to:
319          (a) provide [high quality] effective professional development in elementary integrated
320     arts education in accordance with the professional learning standards in Section [53A-3-701]
321     53A-15-1703 to LEAs that receive a grant under Subsection (4);
322          (b) design and conduct research on:
323          (i) elementary integrated arts education and instruction;
324          (ii) implementation and evaluation of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts
325     Learning Program; and
326          (iii) effectiveness of the professional development under Subsection (7)(a); and
327          (c) provide the public with integrated elementary arts education resources.
328          (8) The State Board of Education shall:
329          (a) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
330     Rulemaking Act, to administer the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning
331     Program; and
332          (b) after consultation with endowed chairs and the integrated arts advocate, submit an
333     annual written report to the Education Interim Committee describing the program's impact on
334     students in kindergarten through grade six.
335          Section 7. Repealer.
336          This bill repeals:
337          Section 53A-17a-124, Quality Teaching Block Grant Program -- State
338     contributions.
339          Section 8. Appropriation.
340          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
341     the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017, the following sums of money
342     are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
343     previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
344     addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2017.
345          To State Board of Education Minimum School Program -- Related to
346          Basic School Program
347          From Education Fund
$30,000,000

348          Schedule of Programs:
349               Professional Learning Grant Program          $30,000,000
350          The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education use the appropriation for the
351     professional learning grant program described in Section 53A-15-1704.




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