Senator Ralph Okerlund proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
EDUCATION COMPUTING PARTNERSHIPS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Ralph Okerlund

5     
House Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

6     Cosponsor:
Howard A. Stephenson

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill creates the Computing Partnerships Grants program.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     creates the Computing Partnerships Grants program, administered by the STEM
14     Action Center;
15          ▸     authorizes the STEM Action Center to work with the State Board of Education to:
16               •     adopt rules for the administration of the grant program;
17               •     establish a grant application process; and
18               •     establish a review committee; and
19          ▸     requires the STEM Action Center to annually report on the grant program to the
20     Education Interim Committee.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:
26     AMENDS:
27          63N-12-202, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 283
28     ENACTS:
29          63N-12-214, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30     

31     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32          Section 1. Section 63N-12-202 is amended to read:
33          63N-12-202. Definitions.
34          As used in this part:
35          (1) "Board" means the STEM Action Center Board created in Section 63N-12-203.
36          (2) "Computing partnerships" means a set of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes used in
37     computer science, information technology, or computer engineering courses and career options.
38          [(2)] (3) "Educator" [has the same meaning as] means the same as that term is defined
39     in Section 53A-6-103.
40          (4) "Grant program" means the Computing Partnerships Grants program created in this
41     part.
42          [(3)] (5) "High quality professional development" means professional development that
43     meets high quality standards developed by the State Board of Education.
44          (6) "Institution of higher education" means an institution listed in Section 53B-1-102.
45          (7) "K-16" means kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary education
46     programs.
47          [(4)] (8) "Office" means the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
48          [(5)] (9) "Provider" means a provider, selected by staff of the board and staff of the
49     Utah State Board of Education, on behalf of the board:
50          (a) through a request for proposals process; or
51          (b) through a direct award or sole source procurement process for a pilot described in
52     Section 63N-12-206.
53          (10) "Review committee" means the committee established under Section 63N-12-214.
54          (11) "Stacked credentials" means credentials that:
55          (a) an individual can build upon to access an advanced job or higher wage;
56          (b) are part of a career pathway system;
57          (c) provide a pathway culminating in the equivalent of an associate's or bachelor's
58     degree;
59          (d) facilitate multiple exit and entry points; and
60          (e) recognize sub-goals or momentum points.
61          [(6)] (12) "STEM" means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
62          [(7)] (13) "STEM Action Center" means the center described in Section 63N-12-205.
63          Section 2. Section 63N-12-214 is enacted to read:
64          63N-12-214. Computing Partnerships Grants program.
65          (1) There is created the Computing Partnerships Grants program consisting of the
66     grants created in this part to provide for the design and implementation of a comprehensive
67     K-16 computing partnerships program, based upon the following common elements:
68          (a) outreach and student engagement;
69          (b) courses and content;
70          (c) instruction and instructional support;
71          (d) work-based learning opportunities;
72          (e) student retention;
73          (f) industry engagement;
74          (g) stacked credentials that allow for multiple exit and entry points;
75          (h) competency-based learning strategies; and
76          (i) secondary and post-secondary collaborations.
77          (2) The grant program shall incentivize public schools and school districts to work
78     with the STEM Action Center, staff of the State Board of Education, industry representatives,
79     and secondary partners on the design and implementation of comprehensive K-16 computing
80     partnerships through:
81          (a) leveraging existing resources for content, professional learning, and instruction,
82     including existing career and technical education funds, programs, and initiatives;
83          (b) allowing for the support of professional learning for pre- and in-service educators;
84          (c) supporting activities that promote and enhance access, diversity, and equity;
85          (d) supporting collaborations and partnerships between K-12, institutions of higher
86     education, cultural and community partners, and industry representatives;
87          (e) identifying the appropriate credentials that align with industry needs and providing
88     the credentials in a stacked credentials pathway;
89          (f) implementing a collaborative network that enables sharing and identification of best
90     practices; and
91          (g) providing infrastructure assistance that allows for the support of new courses and
92     the expansion of capacity for existing courses.
93          (3) The grant program shall include the following:
94          (a) rigorous and relevant metrics that are shared by all grant participants; and
95          (b) an evaluation by the STEM Action Center of the grant program that identifies best
96     practices.
97          (4) The STEM Action Center, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall:
98          (a) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
99     adopt rules:
100          (i) for the administration of the grant program and awarding of grants; and
101          (ii) that define outcome-based measures appropriate to the type of grant awarded under
102     this part;
103          (b) establish a grant application process;
104          (c) in accordance with Subsection (5), establish a review committee to make
105     recommendations for:
106          (i) metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application;
107          (ii) approval of a grant application; and
108          (iii) criteria to establish a requirement for an applicant to demonstrate financial need;
109     and
110          (d) with input from the review committee, adopt metrics to analyze the quality of a
111     grant application.
112          (5) (a) The review committee shall consist of K-16 educators, staff of the State Board
113     of Education, post-secondary partners, and industry representatives.
114          (b) The review committee shall:
115          (i) review a grant application submitted;
116          (ii) make recommendations to a grant applicant to modify the grant application, if
117     necessary; and
118          (iii) make recommendations regarding the final disposition of an application.
119          (6) The board may use up to 5% of an appropriation provided to fund this part for
120     administration of the grant program.
121          (7) The STEM Action Center shall report annually on the grant program to the State
122     Board of Education and any findings and recommendations on the grant program shall be
123     included in the STEM Action Center annual report to the Education Interim Committee.