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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill creates the Teacher and Student Success Program.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ creates the Teacher and Student Success Program (program);
13 ▸ provides for the State Board of Education to distribute funds from the Teacher and
14 Student Success Account to the boards of local education agencies for the purposes
15 of the program;
16 ▸ requires the board of a local education agency to create guidelines for the creation of
17 school outcome-based program plans;
18 ▸ provides for the board of a local education agency to use and distribute program
19 money;
20 ▸ requires a school to make an outcome-based program plan for the use of program
21 money;
22 ▸ provides for oversight of school efforts to improve outcomes according to the
23 school's program plan;
24 ▸ repeals provisions related to school improvement plans;
25 ▸ replaces references to a school improvement plan with references to the
26 outcome-based school program plan required under the program;
27 ▸ repeals provisions related to reading achievement plans; and
28 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
29 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
30 None
31 Other Special Clauses:
32 None
33 Utah Code Sections Affected:
34 AMENDS:
35 53F-5-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 22 and renumbered and
36 amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 2
37 53G-5-405, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 3
38 53G-7-1202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapters 107 and 448
39 53G-7-1203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 448
40 53G-7-1206, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 448
41 ENACTS:
42 53F-2-415, Utah Code Annotated 1953
43 53G-7-1301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
44 53G-7-1302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
45 53G-7-1303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
46 53G-7-1304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
47 53G-7-1305, Utah Code Annotated 1953
48 53G-7-1306, Utah Code Annotated 1953
49 REPEALS:
50 53E-4-306, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 1
51 53G-7-1204, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 3
52
53 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
54 Section 1. Section 53F-2-415 is enacted to read:
55 53F-2-415. Appropriation and distribution for the Teacher and Student Success
56 Program.
57 (1) The terms defined in Section 53G-7-1301 apply to this section.
58 (2) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually appropriate
59 money from the Teacher and Student Success Account described in Section 53F-9-306 to the
60 state board for the Teacher and Student Success Program.
61 (3) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(a), the state board shall calculate an amount to
62 distribute to an LEA that is the product of:
63 (a) the percentage of weighted pupil units in the LEA compared to the total number of
64 weighted pupil units for all LEAs in the state; and
65 (b) the amount of the appropriation described in Subsection (2), less the amount
66 calculated, in accordance with state board rule, for:
67 (i) an LEA that is in the LEA's first year of operation; and
68 (ii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
69 (4) The state board shall distribute to an LEA an amount calculated for the LEA as
70 described in Subsection (3) if the LEA governing board of the LEA has submitted an LEA
71 governing board student success framework as required by the program.
72 (5) In accordance with this section and Title 53G, Chapter 7, Part 13, Teacher and
73 Student Success Program, the state board:
74 (a) shall make rules to calculate an LEA distribution for:
75 (i) an LEA that is in the LEA's first year of operation; and
76 (ii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, taking into account all students who
77 receive services from the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, regardless of whether a
78 student is enrolled in another LEA; and
79 (b) may make rules to distribute funds as described in this section.
80 Section 2. Section 53F-5-203 is amended to read:
81 53F-5-203. Interventions for Reading Difficulties Pilot Program.
82 (1) As used in this section:
83 (a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
84 (b) "Dyslexia" means a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin and
85 characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and
86 decoding abilities that typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language
87 that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective
88 classroom instruction.
89 (c) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
90 (i) a school district;
91 (ii) a charter school; or
92 (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
93 (d) "Multi-Tier System of Supports" or "MTSS" means a framework integrating
94 assessment and intervention that:
95 (i) provides increasingly intensive interventions for students at risk for or experiencing
96 reading difficulties, including:
97 (A) tier II interventions that, in addition to standard classroom reading, provide
98 supplemental and targeted small group instruction in reading using evidence-based curricula;
99 and
100 (B) tier III interventions that address the specific needs of students who are the most at
101 risk or who have not responded to tier II interventions by providing frequent, intensive, and
102 targeted small group instruction using evidence-based curricula; and
103 (ii) is developed to:
104 (A) maximize student achievement;
105 (B) reduce behavior problems; and
106 (C) increase long-term success.
107 (e) "Program" means the Interventions for Reading Difficulties Pilot Program.
108 (f) "Reading difficulty" means an impairment, including dyslexia, that negatively
109 affects a student's ability to learn to read.
110 (2) There is created the Interventions for Reading Difficulties Pilot Program to provide:
111 (a) specific evidence-based literacy interventions using an MTSS for students in
112 kindergarten through grade 5 who are at risk for or experiencing a reading difficulty, including
113 dyslexia; and
114 (b) professional development to educators who provide the literacy interventions
115 described in Subsection (2)(a).
116 (3) (a) An LEA may submit a proposal to the board to participate in the program.
117 (b) An LEA proposal described in Subsection (3)(a) shall:
118 (i) specify:
119 (A) a range of current benchmark assessment in reading scores described in Section
120 53E-4-307 that the LEA will use to determine whether a student is at risk for a reading
121 difficulty; and
122 (B) other reading difficulty risk factors that the LEA will use to determine whether a
123 student is at risk for a reading difficulty;
124 (ii) describe the LEA's existing reading program;
125 (iii) describe the LEA's MTSS approach; and
126 (iv) include any other information requested by the board.
127 (c) The board may:
128 (i) specify the format for an LEA proposal; and
129 (ii) set a deadline for an LEA to submit a proposal.
130 (4) The board shall:
131 (a) define criteria for selecting an LEA to participate in the program;
132 (b) during fiscal year 2016, select five LEAs to participate in the program:
133 (i) on a competitive basis; and
134 (ii) using criteria described in Subsection (4)(a); and
135 (c) provide each LEA, selected as described in Subsection (4)(b), up to $30,000 per
136 school within the LEA.
137 (5) During fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019, if funding allows, the board may select
138 additional LEAs to participate in the program.
139 (6) An LEA that participates in the program:
140 (a) shall, beginning with the 2016-17 school year, provide the interventions described
141 in Subsection (7)(c) from the time the LEA is selected until the end of the 2018-19 school year;
142 and
143 (b) may provide the professional development described in Subsections (8)(a) and (b)
144 beginning in fiscal year 2016.
145 (7) An LEA that participates in the program shall:
146 (a) select at least one school in the LEA to participate in the program;
147 (b) identify students in kindergarten through grade 5 for participation in the program
148 by:
149 (i) using current benchmark assessment in reading scores as described in Section
150 53E-4-307; and
151 (ii) considering other reading difficulty risk factors identified by the LEA;
152 (c) provide interventions for each student participating in the program using an MTSS
153 implemented by an educator trained in evidence-based interventions; and
154 [
155
156
157 [
158 (i) individual student outcomes in changes in reading ability;
159 (ii) school level outcomes; and
160 (iii) any other information requested by the board.
161 (8) Subject to funding for the program, an LEA may use the funds described in
162 Subsection (4)(c) for the following purposes:
163 (a) to provide for ongoing professional development in evidence-based literacy
164 interventions;
165 (b) to support educators in earning a reading interventionist credential that prepares
166 teachers to provide a student who is at risk for or experiencing reading difficulty, including
167 dyslexia, with reading intervention that is:
168 (i) explicit;
169 (ii) systematic; and
170 (iii) targeted to a student's specific reading difficulty; and
171 (c) to implement the program.
172 (9) The board shall contract with an independent evaluator to evaluate the program on:
173 (a) whether the program improves reading outcomes for a student who receives the
174 interventions described in Subsection (7)(c);
175 (b) whether the program may reduce future special education costs; and
176 (c) any other student or school achievement outcomes requested by the board.
177 (10) (a) The board shall make a final report on the program to the Education Interim
178 Committee on or before November 1, 2018.
179 (b) In the final report described in Subsection (10)(a), the board shall include the
180 results of the evaluation described in Subsection (9).
181 Section 3. Section 53G-5-405 is amended to read:
182 53G-5-405. Application of statutes and rules to charter schools.
183 (1) A charter school shall operate in accordance with its charter and is subject to this
184 public education code and other state laws applicable to public schools, except as otherwise
185 provided in this chapter and other related provisions.
186 (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), State Board of Education rules
187 governing the following do not apply to a charter school:
188 (i) school libraries;
189 (ii) required school administrative and supervisory services; and
190 (iii) required expenditures for instructional supplies.
191 (b) A charter school shall comply with rules implementing statutes that prescribe how
192 state appropriations may be spent.
193 (3) The following provisions of this public education code, and rules adopted under
194 those provisions, do not apply to a charter school:
195 (a) [
196 school community council [
197 (b) Section 53G-4-409, requiring the use of activity disclosure statements;
198 (c) Section 53G-7-606, requiring notification of intent to dispose of textbooks;
199 (d) Section 53G-10-404, requiring annual presentations on adoption;
200 (e) Sections 53G-7-304 and 53G-7-306 pertaining to fiscal procedures of school
201 districts and local school boards; and
202 (f) Section 53E-4-408, requiring an independent evaluation of instructional materials.
203 (4) For the purposes of Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, a charter
204 school is considered an educational procurement unit as defined in Section 63G-6a-103.
205 (5) Each charter school shall be subject to:
206 (a) Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act; and
207 (b) Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
208 (6) A charter school is exempt from Section 51-2a-201.5, requiring accounting reports
209 of certain nonprofit corporations. A charter school is subject to the requirements of Section
210 53G-5-404.
211 (7) (a) The State Charter School Board shall, in concert with the charter schools, study
212 existing state law and administrative rules for the purpose of determining from which laws and
213 rules charter schools should be exempt.
214 (b) (i) The State Charter School Board shall present recommendations for exemption to
215 the State Board of Education for consideration.
216 (ii) The State Board of Education shall consider the recommendations of the State
217 Charter School Board and respond within 60 days.
218 Section 4. Section 53G-7-1202 is amended to read:
219 53G-7-1202. School community councils -- Duties -- Composition -- Election
220 procedures and selection of members.
221 (1) As used in this section:
222 (a) "Digital citizenship" means the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy
223 behavior related to technology use, including digital literacy, ethics, etiquette, and security.
224 (b) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board
225 elected under Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School
226 Boards.
227 (c) "Educator" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-6-102.
228 (d) (i) "Parent or guardian member" means a member of a school community council
229 who is a parent or guardian of a student who:
230 (A) is attending the school; or
231 (B) will be enrolled at the school during the parent's or guardian's term of office.
232 (ii) "Parent or guardian member" may not include an educator who is employed at the
233 school.
234 (e) "School community council" means a council established at a district school in
235 accordance with this section.
236 (f) "School employee member" means a member of a school community council who is
237 a person employed at the school by the school or school district, including the principal.
238 (g) "School LAND Trust Program money" means money allocated to a school pursuant
239 to Section 53F-2-404.
240 (2) A district school, in consultation with the district school's local school board, shall
241 establish a school community council at the school building level for the purpose of:
242 (a) involving parents or guardians of students in decision making at the school level;
243 (b) improving the education of students;
244 (c) prudently expending School LAND Trust Program money for the improvement of
245 students' education through collaboration among parents and guardians, school employees, and
246 the local school board; and
247 (d) increasing public awareness of:
248 (i) school trust lands and related land policies;
249 (ii) management of the State School Fund established in Utah Constitution Article X,
250 Section V; and
251 (iii) educational excellence.
252 (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a school community council shall:
253 [
254 [
255 with Section 53G-7-1206;
256 [
257 administrators and the local school board regarding:
258 (A) the school and its programs;
259 (B) school district programs;
260 (C) a child access routing plan in accordance with Section 53G-4-402;
261 (D) safe technology utilization and digital citizenship; and
262 (E) other issues relating to the community environment for students;
263 [
264 digital citizenship that empowers:
265 (A) a student to make smart media and online choices; and
266 (B) a parent or guardian to know how to discuss safe technology use with the parent's
267 or guardian's child; and
268 [
269 adequate on and off campus Internet filtering is installed and consistently configured to prevent
270 viewing of harmful content by students and school personnel, in accordance with local school
271 board policy and Subsection 53G-7-216(3).
272 (b) To fulfill the school community council's duties described in Subsections (3)(a)[
273
274 (i) partner with one or more non-profit organizations; or
275 (ii) create a subcommittee.
276 (c) A school or school district administrator may not prohibit or discourage a school
277 community council from discussing issues, or offering advice or recommendations, regarding
278 the school and its programs, school district programs, the curriculum, or the community
279 environment for students.
280 (4) (a) Each school community council shall consist of school employee members and
281 parent or guardian members in accordance with this section.
282 (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c) or (d):
283 (i) each school community council for a high school shall have six parent or guardian
284 members and four school employee members, including the principal; and
285 (ii) each school community council for a school other than a high school shall have
286 four parent or guardian members and two school employee members, including the principal.
287 (c) A school community council may determine the size of the school community
288 council by a majority vote of a quorum of the school community council provided that:
289 (i) the membership includes two or more parent or guardian members than the number
290 of school employee members; and
291 (ii) there are at least two school employee members on the school community council.
292 (d) (i) The number of parent or guardian members of a school community council who
293 are not educators employed by the school district shall exceed the number of parent or guardian
294 members who are educators employed by the school district.
295 (ii) If, after an election, the number of parent or guardian members who are not
296 educators employed by the school district does not exceed the number of parent or guardian
297 members who are educators employed by the school district, the parent or guardian members of
298 the school community council shall appoint one or more parent or guardian members to the
299 school community council so that the number of parent or guardian members who are not
300 educators employed by the school district exceeds the number of parent or guardian members
301 who are educators employed by the school district.
302 (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(f), a school employee member, other than
303 the principal, shall be elected by secret ballot by a majority vote of the school employees and
304 serve a two-year term. The principal shall serve as an ex officio member with full voting
305 privileges.
306 (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(f), a parent or guardian member shall be
307 elected by secret ballot at an election held at the school by a majority vote of those voting at the
308 election and serve a two-year term.
309 (ii) (A) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b)(ii)(B), only a parent or guardian of a
310 student attending the school may vote in, or run as a candidate in, the election under Subsection
311 (5)(b)(i).
312 (B) If an election is held in the spring, a parent or guardian of a student who will be
313 attending the school the following school year may vote in, and run as a candidate in, the
314 election under Subsection (5)(b)(i).
315 (iii) Any parent or guardian of a student who meets the qualifications of this section
316 may file or declare the parent's or guardian's candidacy for election to a school community
317 council.
318 (iv) (A) Subject to Subsections (5)(b)(iv)(B) and (5)(b)(iv)(C), a timeline for the
319 election of parent or guardian members of a school community council shall be established by
320 a local school board for the schools within the school district.
321 (B) An election for the parent or guardian members of a school community council
322 shall be held near the beginning of the school year or held in the spring and completed before
323 the last week of school.
324 (C) Each school shall establish a time period for the election of parent or guardian
325 members of a school community council under Subsection (5)(b)(iv)(B) that is consistent for at
326 least a four-year period.
327 (c) (i) At least 10 days before the date that voting commences for the elections held
328 under Subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b), the principal of the school, or the principal's designee,
329 shall provide notice to each school employee, parent, or guardian, of the opportunity to vote in,
330 and run as a candidate in, an election under this Subsection (5).
331 (ii) The notice shall include:
332 (A) the dates and times of the elections;
333 (B) a list of council positions that are up for election; and
334 (C) instructions for becoming a candidate for a community council position.
335 (iii) The principal of the school, or the principal's designee, shall oversee the elections
336 held under Subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b).
337 (iv) Ballots cast in an election held under Subsection (5)(b) shall be deposited in a
338 secure ballot box.
339 (d) Results of the elections held under Subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b) shall be made
340 available to the public upon request.
341 (e) (i) If a parent or guardian position on a school community council remains unfilled
342 after an election is held, the other parent or guardian members of the council shall appoint a
343 parent or guardian who meets the qualifications of this section to fill the position.
344 (ii) If a school employee position on a school community council remains unfilled after
345 an election is held, the other school employee members of the council shall appoint a school
346 employee to fill the position.
347 (iii) A member appointed to a school community council under Subsection (5)(e)(i) or
348 (ii) shall serve a two-year term.
349 (f) (i) If the number of candidates who file for a parent or guardian position or school
350 employee position on a school community council is less than or equal to the number of open
351 positions, an election is not required.
352 (ii) If an election is not held pursuant to Subsection (5)(f)(i) and a parent or guardian
353 position remains unfilled, the other parent or guardian members of the council shall appoint a
354 parent or guardian who meets the qualifications of this section to fill the position.
355 (iii) If an election is not held pursuant to Subsection (5)(f)(i) and a school employee
356 position remains unfilled, the other school employee members of the council shall appoint a
357 school employee who meets the qualifications of this section to fill the position.
358 (g) The principal shall enter the names of the council members on the School LAND
359 Trust website on or before October 20 of each year, pursuant to Section 53G-7-1203.
360 (h) Terms shall be staggered so that approximately half of the council members stand
361 for election each year.
362 (i) A school community council member may serve successive terms provided the
363 member continues to meet the definition of a parent or guardian member or school employee
364 member as specified in Subsection (1).
365 (j) Each school community council shall elect:
366 (i) a chair from its parent or guardian members; and
367 (ii) a vice chair from either its parent or guardian members or school employee
368 members, excluding the principal.
369 (6) (a) A school community council may create subcommittees or task forces to:
370 (i) advise or make recommendations to the council; or
371 (ii) develop all or part of a plan listed in Subsection (3).
372 (b) Any plan or part of a plan developed by a subcommittee or task force shall be
373 subject to the approval of the school community council.
374 (c) A school community council may appoint individuals who are not council members
375 to serve on a subcommittee or task force, including parents or guardians, school employees, or
376 other community members.
377 (7) (a) A majority of the members of a school community council is a quorum for the
378 transaction of business.
379 (b) The action of a majority of the members of a quorum is the action of the school
380 community council.
381 (8) A local school board shall provide training for a school community council each
382 year, including training:
383 (a) for the chair and vice chair about their responsibilities;
384 (b) on resources available on the School LAND Trust website; and
385 (c) on this part.
386 Section 5. Section 53G-7-1203 is amended to read:
387 53G-7-1203. School community councils -- Open and public meeting
388 requirements.
389 (1) As used in this section:
390 (a) (i) "Charter trust land council" means a council established by a charter school
391 governing board under Section 53G-7-1205.
392 (ii) "Charter trust land council" does not include a charter school governing board
393 acting as a charter trust land council.
394 (b) "School community council" means a council established at a school within a
395 school district under Section 53G-7-1202.
396 (c) "Council" means a school community council or a charter trust land council.
397 (d) "Teacher and student success plan" means the same as that term is defined in
398 Section 53G-7-1301.
399 (2) A school community council or a charter trust land council:
400 (a) shall conduct deliberations and take action openly as provided in this section; and
401 (b) is exempt from Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.
402 (3) (a) As required by Section 53G-7-1202, a local school board shall provide training
403 for the members of a school community council on this section.
404 (b) A charter school governing board shall provide training for the members of a
405 charter trust land council on this section.
406 (4) (a) A meeting of a council is open to the public.
407 (b) A council may not close any portion of a meeting.
408 (5) A council shall, at least one week prior to a meeting, post the following information
409 on the school's website:
410 (a) a notice of the meeting, time, and place;
411 (b) an agenda for the meeting; and
412 (c) the minutes of the previous meeting.
413 (6) (a) On or before October 20, a principal shall post the following information on the
414 school website and in the school office:
415 (i) the proposed council meeting schedule for the year;
416 (ii) a telephone number or email address, or both, where each council member can be
417 reached directly; and
418 (iii) a summary of the annual report required under Section 53G-7-1206 on how the
419 school's School LAND Trust Program money was used to enhance or improve academic
420 excellence at the school and implement a component of the school's [
421 teacher and student success plan.
422 (b) (i) A council shall identify and use methods of providing the information listed in
423 Subsection (6)(a) to a parent or guardian who does not have Internet access.
424 (ii) Money allocated to a school under the School LAND Trust Program under Section
425 53F-2-404 may not be used to provide information as required by Subsection (6)(b)(i).
426 (7) (a) The notice requirement of Subsection (5) may be disregarded if:
427 (i) because of unforeseen circumstances it is necessary for a council to hold an
428 emergency meeting to consider matters of an emergency or urgent nature; and
429 (ii) the council gives the best notice practicable of:
430 (A) the time and place of the emergency meeting; and
431 (B) the topics to be considered at the emergency meeting.
432 (b) An emergency meeting of a council may not be held unless:
433 (i) an attempt has been made to notify all the members of the council; and
434 (ii) a majority of the members of the council approve the meeting.
435 (8) (a) An agenda required under Subsection (5)(b) shall provide reasonable specificity
436 to notify the public as to the topics to be considered at the meeting.
437 (b) Each topic described in Subsection (8)(a) shall be listed under an agenda item on
438 the meeting agenda.
439 (c) A council may not take final action on a topic in a meeting unless the topic is:
440 (i) listed under an agenda item as required by Subsection (8)(b); and
441 (ii) included with the advance public notice required by Subsection (5).
442 (9) (a) Written minutes shall be kept of a council meeting.
443 (b) Written minutes of a council meeting shall include:
444 (i) the date, time, and place of the meeting;
445 (ii) the names of members present and absent;
446 (iii) a brief statement of the matters proposed, discussed, or decided;
447 (iv) a record, by individual member, of each vote taken;
448 (v) the name of each person who:
449 (A) is not a member of the council; and
450 (B) after being recognized by the chair, provided testimony or comments to the
451 council;
452 (vi) the substance, in brief, of the testimony or comments provided by the public under
453 Subsection (9)(b)(v); and
454 (vii) any other information that is a record of the proceedings of the meeting that any
455 member requests be entered in the minutes.
456 (c) The written minutes of a council meeting:
457 (i) are a public record under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
458 Management Act; and
459 (ii) shall be retained for three years.
460 (10) (a) As used in this Subsection (10), "rules of order and procedure" means a set of
461 rules that govern and prescribe in a public meeting:
462 (i) parliamentary order and procedure;
463 (ii) ethical behavior; and
464 (iii) civil discourse.
465 (b) A council shall:
466 (i) adopt rules of order and procedure to govern a public meeting of the council;
467 (ii) conduct a public meeting in accordance with the rules of order and procedure
468 described in Subsection (10)(b)(i); and
469 (iii) make the rules of order and procedure described in Subsection (10)(b)(i) available
470 to the public:
471 (A) at each public meeting of the council; and
472 (B) on the school's website.
473 Section 6. Section 53G-7-1206 is amended to read:
474 53G-7-1206. School LAND Trust Program.
475 (1) As used in this section:
476 (a) "Charter agreement" means an agreement made in accordance with Section
477 53G-5-303 that authorizes the operation of a charter school.
478 (b) "Charter school authorizer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
479 53G-5-102.
480 (c) "Charter trust land council" means a council established by a charter school
481 governing board under Section 53G-7-1205.
482 (d) "Council" means a school community council or a charter trust land council.
483 (e) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board
484 elected under Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School
485 Boards.
486 (f) "LAND trust plan" means a school's plan to use School LAND Trust Program
487 money to implement a component of the school's success plan.
488 [
489 accordance with Section 53G-7-1202.
490 (h) "Teacher and student success plan" or "success plan" means the same as that term is
491 defined in Section 53G-7-1301.
492 (2) There is established the School LAND (Learning And Nurturing Development)
493 Trust Program under the State Board of Education to:
494 (a) provide financial resources to public schools to enhance or improve student
495 academic achievement and implement a component of a [
496
497 student success plan; and
498 (b) involve parents and guardians of a school's students in decision making regarding
499 the expenditure of School LAND Trust Program money allocated to the school.
500 (3) To receive an allocation under Section 53F-2-404:
501 (a) a district school shall have established a school community council in accordance
502 with Section 53G-7-1202;
503 (b) a charter school shall have established a charter trust land council in accordance
504 with Section 53G-7-1205; and
505 (c) the school's principal shall provide a signed, written assurance that the school is in
506 compliance with Subsection (3)(a) or (b).
507 (4) (a) A council shall create a program to use the school's allocation distributed under
508 Section 53F-2-404 to implement a component of the school's[
509
510 (i) the school's identified most critical academic needs;
511 (ii) a recommended course of action to meet the identified academic needs;
512 (iii) a specific listing of any programs, practices, materials, or equipment that the
513 school will need to implement a component of [
514 success plan to have a direct impact on the instruction of students and result in measurable
515 increased student performance; and
516 (iv) how the school intends to spend [
517 section to enhance or improve academic excellence at the school.
518 (b) (i) A council shall create and vote to adopt a [
519
520 present.
521 (ii) If a majority of the quorum votes to adopt a [
522
523 (c) A council shall:
524 (i) post a [
525 that is adopted in accordance with Subsection (4)(b) on the School LAND Trust Program
526 website; and
527 (ii) include with the LAND trust plan a report noting the number of council members
528 who voted for or against the approval of the LAND trust plan and the number of council
529 members who were absent for the vote.
530 (d) (i) The local school board of a district school shall approve or disapprove a [
531
532 (ii) If a local school board disapproves a [
533
534 (A) the local school board shall provide a written explanation of why the LAND trust
535 plan was disapproved and request the school community council who submitted the LAND
536 trust plan to revise the LAND trust plan; and
537 (B) the school community council shall submit a revised LAND trust plan in response
538 to a local school board's request under Subsection (4)(d)(ii)(A).
539 (iii) Once a LAND trust plan has been approved by a local school board, a school
540 community council may amend the LAND trust plan, subject to a majority vote of the school
541 community council and local school board approval.
542 (e) A charter trust land council's [
543
544 (i) charter school governing board; and
545 (ii) charter school's charter school authorizer.
546 (5) (a) A district school or charter school shall:
547 (i) implement the program as approved;
548 (ii) provide ongoing support for the council's program; and
549 (iii) meet State Board of Education reporting requirements regarding financial and
550 performance accountability of the program.
551 (b) (i) A district school or charter school shall prepare and post an annual report of the
552 program on the School LAND Trust Program website each fall.
553 (ii) The report shall detail the use of program funds received by the school under this
554 section and an assessment of the results obtained from the use of the funds.
555 (iii) A summary of the report shall be provided to parents or guardians of students
556 attending the school.
557 (6) On or before October 1 of each year, a school district shall record the amount of the
558 program funds distributed to each school under Section 53F-2-404 on the School LAND Trust
559 Program website to assist schools in developing the annual report described in Subsection
560 (5)(b).
561 (7) The president or chair of a local school board or charter school governing board
562 shall ensure that the members of the local school board or charter school governing board are
563 provided with annual training on the requirements of this section.
564 (8) (a) The School LAND Trust Program shall provide training to the entities described
565 in Subsection (8)(b) on:
566 (i) the School LAND Trust Program; and
567 (ii) (A) a school community council; or
568 (B) a charter trust land council.
569 (b) The School LAND Trust Program shall provide the training to:
570 (i) a local school board or a charter school governing board;
571 (ii) a school district or a charter school; and
572 (iii) a school community council.
573 (9) The School LAND Trust Program shall annually review each school's compliance
574 with applicable law, including rules adopted by the State Board of Education, by:
575 (a) reading each [
576 (b) reviewing expenditures made from School LAND Trust Program money.
577 (10) The board shall designate a staff member who administers the School LAND
578 Trust Program:
579 (a) to serve as a member of the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Committee
580 created under Section 53D-2-202; and
581 (b) who may coordinate with the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office director,
582 appointed under Section 53D-2-203, to attend meetings or events within the School and
583 Institutional Trust System, as defined in Section 53D-2-102, that relate to the School LAND
584 Trust Program.
585 Section 7. Section 53G-7-1301 is enacted to read:
586
587 53G-7-1301. Definitions.
588 As used in this part:
589 (1) "LEA distribution" means the money distributed by the state board to an LEA as
590 described in Section 53G-7-1303.
591 (2) "LEA governing board student success framework" means an LEA governing board
592 student success framework described in Section 53G-7-1304.
593 (3) "Principal" means the chief administrator at a school, including:
594 (a) a school principal;
595 (b) a charter school director; or
596 (c) the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
597 (4) "School allocation" means the amount of money allocated to a school or the Utah
598 Schools for the Deaf and the Blind by an LEA governing board, as described in Section
599 53G-7-1304.
600 (5) "School personnel" means an individual who:
601 (a) is employed by an LEA; and
602 (b) in an academic role, works directly with and supports students in a school.
603 (6) "Statewide accountability system" means the statewide school accountability
604 system described in Title 53E, Chapter 5, Part 2, School Accountability System.
605 (7) "Teacher and student success plan" or "success plan" means a school performance
606 and student academic achievement improvement plan described in Section 53G-7-1305.
607 (8) "Teacher and Student Success Program" or "program" means the Teacher and
608 Student Success Program described in this part.
609 Section 8. Section 53G-7-1302 is enacted to read:
610 53G-7-1302. Teacher and Student Success Program created.
611 There is created the Teacher and Student Success Program to improve school
612 performance and student academic achievement, as described in this part.
613 Section 9. Section 53G-7-1303 is enacted to read:
614 53G-7-1303. State funding distribution.
615 The state board shall distribute program funding to an LEA as described in Section
616 53F-2-415.
617 Section 10. Section 53G-7-1304 is enacted to read:
618 53G-7-1304. Program requirements -- LEA governing board student success
619 framework -- LEA distribution -- School allocation -- Reporting.
620 (1) (a) To receive an LEA distribution, an LEA governing board shall:
621 (i) adopt an LEA governing board student success framework to provide guidelines for
622 a school within the LEA governing board's LEA to follow in developing a teacher and student
623 success plan; and
624 (ii) submit the adopted LEA governing board student success framework to the state
625 board.
626 (b) An LEA governing board may include in the LEA governing board's student
627 success framework any means reasonably designed to improve school performance or student
628 academic achievement, including:
629 (i) school personnel stipends for taking on additional responsibility outside of a typical
630 work assignment;
631 (ii) professional learning;
632 (iii) additional school employees, including counselors, social workers, mental health
633 workers, tutors, media specialists, information technology specialists, or other specialists;
634 (iv) technology;
635 (v) before- or after-school programs;
636 (vi) summer school programs;
637 (vii) community support programs or partnerships;
638 (viii) early childhood education;
639 (ix) class size reduction strategies;
640 (x) augmentation of existing programs; or
641 (xi) other means.
642 (c) An LEA governing board student success framework may not support the use of
643 program money:
644 (i) to supplant funding for existing public education programs;
645 (ii) for district administration costs; or
646 (iii) for capital expenditures.
647 (2) (a) An LEA governing board shall use an LEA distribution as follows:
648 (i) for increases to base salary and salary driven benefits for school personnel that,
649 except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(i), total 25% or less of the LEA distribution; and
650 (ii) except as provided in Subsection (2)(b)(ii) and in accordance with Subsection (3),
651 for each school within the LEA governing board's LEA, an allocation that is equal to the
652 product of:
653 (A) the percentage of the school's prior year average daily membership compared to the
654 total prior year average daily membership for all schools in the LEA; and
655 (B) the remaining amount of the LEA governing board's LEA distribution after
656 subtracting the amounts described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (2)(b)(ii).
657 (b) (i) The state board shall make rules for an LEA governing board to calculate and
658 distribute a school allocation for a school in the school's first year of operation.
659 (ii) In accordance with Subsection (3) and the rules described in Subsection (2)(b)(i),
660 an LEA governing board shall distribute a school allocation for a school in the school's first
661 year of operation.
662 (c) (i) The LEA governing board of a school district may use up to 40% of an LEA
663 distribution for the purposes described in Subsection (2)(a)(i), if:
664 (A) the LEA governing board has approved a board local levy for the maximum
665 amount allowed under Section 53F-8-302; and
666 (B) the school district's average teacher salary is below the state average teacher salary
667 described in Subsection (2)(c)(iii).
668 (ii) An LEA governing board shall annually report information as requested by the
669 state board for the state board to calculate a state average teacher salary.
670 (iii) The state board shall use the information described in Subsection (2)(c)(ii) to
671 calculate a state average teacher salary amount and a state average teacher benefit amount.
672 (3) An LEA governing board shall allocate a school allocation to a school with a
673 teacher and student success plan that is approved as described in Section 53G-7-1305.
674 (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a school shall use a school allocation to
675 implement the school's success plan.
676 (b) A school may use up to 5% of the school's school allocation to fund school
677 personnel retention at the principal's discretion, not including uniform salary increases.
678 (c) A school may not use a school allocation for:
679 (i) capital expenditures; or
680 (ii) a purpose that is not supported by the LEA governing board student success
681 framework for the school's LEA.
682 (5) A school that receives a school allocation shall annually:
683 (a) submit to the school's LEA governing board a description of:
684 (i) the budgeted and actual expenditures of the school's school allocation;
685 (ii) how the expenditures relate to the school's success plan; and
686 (iii) how the school measures the success of the school's participation in the program;
687 and
688 (b) post on the school's website:
689 (i) the school's approved success plan;
690 (ii) a description of the school's school allocation budgeted and actual expenditures and
691 how the expenditures help the school accomplish the school's success plan; and
692 (iii) the school's current level of performance, as described in Section 53G-7-1306,
693 according to the indicators described in Section 53E-5-205 or 53E-5-206.
694 Section 11. Section 53G-7-1305 is enacted to read:
695 53G-7-1305. Teacher and student success plans -- Plan review and approval.
696 (1) (a) The principal of a school shall develop the school's teacher and student success
697 plan:
698 (i) in accordance with the LEA governing board student success framework for the
699 school's LEA;
700 (ii) by integrating school-specific goals and criteria for improving the school's
701 performance within the state accountability system; and
702 (iii) if the school has a school turnaround plan as defined in Section 53E-5-301, in
703 accordance with the school's school turnaround plan.
704 (b) A principal may solicit input on developing a success plan from the school's:
705 (i) educators;
706 (ii) administrators;
707 (iii) students;
708 (iv) support professionals;
709 (v) members of the school's school community council or charter trust land council;
710 (vi) parents; or
711 (vii) other community stakeholders.
712 (2) (a) The principal of a school shall submit a proposed success plan to the school's
713 LEA governing board.
714 (b) An LEA governing board shall:
715 (i) annually review each success plan submitted for a school within the LEA governing
716 board's LEA;
717 (ii) in a regularly scheduled LEA governing board meeting, approve or disapprove each
718 submitted success plan; and
719 (iii) upon disapproval of a success plan:
720 (A) explain in writing the reason for disapproval;
721 (B) make recommendations for revision;
722 (C) allow the principal who submitted the success plan to resubmit a revised plan for
723 review; and
724 (D) approve a resubmitted plan, if the plan complies with the LEA governing board's
725 recommendations for revision.
726 (3) An LEA governing board shall make the LEA governing board's best efforts to help
727 a school complete the approval process described in Subsection (2) on or before June 30 of
728 each year.
729 (4) A council, as defined in Section 53G-7-1206, shall select a component of the
730 approved success plan for the council's school to address within the council's School LAND
731 Trust Program, in accordance with Section 53G-7-1206.
732 Section 12. Section 53G-7-1306 is enacted to read:
733 53G-7-1306. School improvement oversight -- Performance standards.
734 (1) The state board shall make rules that:
735 (a) using a criteria-setting process, determine a threshold of points under the statewide
736 school accountability system that designates a school as succeeding in school performance and
737 student academic achievement; and
738 (b) determine performance standards for a school described in Section 53E-5-203.
739 (2) (a) For each year following the year in which a school received approval for a
740 success plan, an LEA governing board shall determine if the school:
741 (i) meets or exceeds the threshold of points described in Subsection (1);
742 (ii) has demonstrated at least a 1% increase in the school's total points received under
743 the statewide school accountability system compared to the previous school year; or
744 (iii) qualifies for and satisfies the performance standards described in Subsection
745 (1)(b).
746 (b) If the LEA governing board determines that a school does not satisfy Subsection
747 (2)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii), the LEA governing board shall:
748 (i) work with the school's principal to modify the school's success plan to address the
749 school's performance; and
750 (ii) oversee and adjust the school's allocation expenditures until the LEA governing
751 board determines the school satisfies Subsection (2)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii).
752 Section 13. Repealer.
753 This bill repeals:
754 Section 53E-4-306, State reading goal -- Reading achievement plan.
755 Section 53G-7-1204, School improvement plan.