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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill reinstates the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers
11 Program.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ defines terms;
15 ▸ reinstates the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers (MOST)
16 Program;
17 ▸ addresses the duties and authority of the State Board of Education related to the
18 funding of the MOST Program and associated grants;
19 ▸ addresses the allowable expenditures for MOST Program grant money; and
20 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022:
23 ▸ to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic
24 School Programs, as an ongoing appropriation:
25 • from the Education Fund, $3,900,000; and
26 ▸ to the State Board of Education - MSP Categorical Program Administration, as an
27 ongoing appropriation:
28 • from the Education Fund, $100,000.
29 Other Special Clauses:
30 None
31 Utah Code Sections Affected:
32 AMENDS:
33 53F-2-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 14
34 ENACTS:
35 53F-2-505.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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37 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
38 Section 1. Section 53F-2-203 is amended to read:
39 53F-2-203. Reduction of LEA governing board allocation based on insufficient
40 revenues.
41 (1) As used in this section, "Minimum School Program funds" means the total of state
42 and local funds appropriated for the Minimum School Program, excluding:
43 (a) an appropriation for a state guaranteed local levy increment as described in Section
44 53F-2-601; and
45 (b) the appropriation to charter schools to replace local property tax revenues pursuant
46 to Section 53F-2-704.
47 (2) If the Legislature reduces appropriations made to support public schools under this
48 chapter because an Education Fund budget deficit, as defined in Section 63J-1-312, exists, the
49 state board, after consultation with each LEA governing board, shall allocate the reduction
50 among school districts and charter schools in proportion to each school district's or charter
51 school's percentage share of Minimum School Program funds.
52 (3) Except as provided in Subsection (5) and subject to the requirements of Subsection
53 (7), an LEA governing board shall determine which programs are affected by a reduction
54 pursuant to Subsection (2) and the amount each program is reduced.
55 (4) Except as provided in Subsections (5) and (6), the requirement to spend a specified
56 amount in any particular program is waived if reductions are made pursuant to Subsection (2).
57 (5) An LEA governing board may not reduce or reallocate spending of funds
58 distributed to the school district or charter school for the following programs:
59 (a) educator salary adjustments provided in Section 53F-2-405;
60 (b) the Teacher Salary Supplement Program provided in Section 53F-2-504;
61 (c) the extended year for special educators provided in Section 53F-2-310;
62 (d) the School LAND Trust Program described in Sections 53F-2-404 and
63 53G-7-1206; [
64 (e) the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers Program provided in
65 Section 53F-2-505.1; or
66 [
67 (6) An LEA governing board may not reallocate spending of funds distributed to the
68 school district or charter school to a reserve account.
69 (7) An LEA governing board that reduces or reallocates funds in accordance with this
70 section shall report all transfers into, or out of, Minimum School Program programs to the state
71 board as part of the school district or charter school's Annual Financial and Program report.
72 Section 2. Section 53F-2-505.1 is enacted to read:
73 53F-2-505.1. 29 Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers
74 Program.
75 (1) As used in this section, "MOST Program" means the Math and Science
76 Opportunities for Students and Teachers Program created in this section.
77 (2) (a) The Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers Program is
78 created to provide a financial incentive for LEA governing boards to adopt programs in
79 respective LEAs that result in a more efficient use of human resources and capital facilities.
80 (b) The intended benefits of the program include:
81 (i) increased opportunities for supporting math and science teachers in their
82 instructional delivery as it pertains to student learning outcomes;
83 (ii) increased compensation for math and science teachers by providing opportunities
84 for an expanded contract year which will enhance LEAs' ability to attract and retain talented
85 and highly qualified math and science teachers;
86 (iii) increased capacity of school buildings by using buildings more hours of the day or
87 more days of the year, resulting in reduced capital facilities costs;
88 (iv) decreased class sizes created by expanding the number of instructional
89 opportunities in a year;
90 (v) opportunities for earlier high school graduation;
91 (vi) improved student college preparation;
92 (vii) increased opportunities to offer additional remedial and advanced courses in math
93 and science; and
94 (viii) opportunities to coordinate high school and post-secondary math and science
95 education.
96 (3) From money appropriated for the MOST Program, the state board shall award
97 grants to LEAs to pay for costs related to the adoption and implementation of the program.
98 (4) The state board shall:
99 (a) solicit proposals from an LEA or a regional education service agency on behalf of
100 an LEA for the use of grant money to facilitate the adoption and implementation of the
101 program; and
102 (b) award grants on a competitive basis.
103 (5) In selecting a grant recipient, the state board shall consider:
104 (a) the degree to which an LEA's proposed adoption and implementation of an
105 extended year for math and science teachers achieves the benefits described in Subsection (2);
106 (b) the unique circumstances of different urban, rural, large, small, growing, and
107 declining LEAs; and
108 (c) providing programs in as many different LEAs as possible.
109 (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), an LEA may only use grant money to
110 provide educator contracts, educator contract extensions, educator stipends, or combinations of
111 both, for participating MOST Program math and science teachers.
112 (b) Up to 5% of the grant money may be used to fund math and science field trips,
113 textbooks, and supplies.
114 (7) Participation in the MOST Program is:
115 (a) voluntary for an individual teacher; and
116 (b) voluntary for a charter school or school district.
117 Section 3. Appropriation.
118 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
119 2021, and ending June 30, 2022. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
120 fiscal year 2022. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
121 Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
122 indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
123 ITEM 1
124 To State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School
125 Programs
126 From Education Fund $3,900,000
127 Schedule of Programs:
128 Math and Science Opportunities for Students
129 and Teachers Program $3,900,000
130 ITEM 2
131 To State Board of Education - MSP Categorical Program Administration
132 From Education Fund $100,000
133 Schedule of Programs:
134 Math and Science Opportunities for Students
135 and Teachers Program $100,000