1     
HIGH-NEED SCHOOL AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Kathleen A. Riebe

5     
House Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill provides for grants to local education agencies to employ additional educators
10     in high-need schools.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     requires the State Board of Education to:
15               •     solicit proposals from local education agencies;
16               •     award grants; and
17               •     make administrative rules;
18          ▸     requires a local education agency that receives a grant to:
19               •     use the funding to employ an additional first year educator in a high-need
20     school;
21               •     provide matching funds; and
22               •     report to the State Board of Education;
23          ▸     provides a sunset date; and
24          ▸     makes technical changes.
25     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025:
27          ▸     to State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School

28     Programs - Grants for Educators for High-need Schools as an ongoing appropriation:
29               •     from the Income Tax Fund, $500,000
30     Other Special Clauses:
31          This bill provides a special effective date.
32     Utah Code Sections Affected:
33     AMENDS:
34          63I-1-253 (Eff 07/01/24) (Cont Sup 01/01/25), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023,
35     Chapters 30, 52, 133, 161, 310, 367, and 494
36          63I-1-253 (Contingently Effective 01/01/25), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023,
37     Chapters 30, 52, 133, 161, 187, 310, 367, and 494
38     ENACTS:
39          53F-5-222, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40     

41     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42          Section 1. Section 53F-5-222 is enacted to read:
43          53F-5-222. Grants for additional educators for high-need schools.
44          (1) As used in this section:
45          (a) "Educator" means an individual who holds a professional educator license
46     described in Section 53E-6-201.
47          (b) "First-year educator" means an educator who is:
48          (i) a classroom teacher; and
49          (ii) in the educator's first year of teaching.
50          (c) "High-need school" means an elementary school in an LEA that qualifies for a grant
51     under this section based on the criteria established by the state board under Subsection
52     (5)(a)(ii).
53          (d) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means a school district or charter school.
54          (e) "Title I school" means a school that receives funds under Title I of the Elementary
55     and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.
56          (2) Subject to legislative appropriations, and in accordance with this section, the state
57     board shall award a grant to an LEA to fund the salary and benefits for an additional first-year
58     educator to teach in a high-need school.

59          (3) The state board shall:
60          (a) solicit proposals from LEAs to receive a grant under this section; and
61          (b) award grants to LEAs on a competitive basis based on the LEA applications
62     described in Subsection (4)(a).
63          (4) To receive a grant under this section, an LEA shall:
64          (a) submit an application to the state board that:
65          (i) lists the school or schools for which the LEA intends to use a grant;
66          (ii) describes how each school for which the LEA intends to use a grant meets the
67     criteria for being a high-need school; and
68          (iii) includes any other information required by the board under the rules described in
69     Subsection (5); and
70          (b) provide matching funds in an amount equal to the grant received by the LEA under
71     this section.
72          (5) (a) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
73     the state board shall make rules specifying:
74          (i) the procedure for an LEA to apply for a grant under this section, including
75     application requirements; and
76          (ii) the criteria for determining if an elementary school is a high-need school.
77          (b) In establishing the criteria described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii), the state board shall
78     consider the following factors:
79          (i) Title I school status;
80          (ii) low school performance, as indicated by the school accountability system described
81     in Title 53E, Chapter 5, Part 2, School Accountability System;
82          (iii) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are either experiencing or
83     at risk of experiencing intergenerational poverty;
84          (iv) a high ratio of students to educators in the school;
85          (v) higher than average educator turnover in the school;
86          (vi) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are experiencing
87     homelessness; and
88          (vii) other factors determined by the state board.
89          (6) An LEA that receives a grant under this section shall:

90          (a) (i) use the grant to fund a portion of the cost of the salary and benefits for an
91     additional first-year educator who teaches in a high-need school; and
92          (ii) maintain a class size of fewer than 20 students for a first-year educator whose
93     salary and benefits are funded by the grant; and
94          (b) annually submit a report to the state board describing:
95          (i) how the LEA used the grant; and
96          (ii) whether the grant was effective in maintaining a smaller class size for the first-year
97     educator whose salary and benefits were funded by the grant.
98          Section 2. Section 63I-1-253 (Eff 07/01/24) (Cont Sup 01/01/25) is amended to read:
99          63I-1-253 (Eff 07/01/24) (Cont Sup 01/01/25). Repeal dates: Titles 53 through
100     53G.
101          (1) Section 53-2a-105, which creates the Emergency Management Administration
102     Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
103          (2) Sections 53-2a-1103 and 53-2a-1104, which create the Search and Rescue Advisory
104     Board, are repealed July 1, 2027.
105          (3) Section 53-2d-703 is repealed July 1, 2027.
106          (4) Section 53-5-703, which creates the Concealed Firearm Review Board, is repealed
107     July 1, 2024.
108          (5) Section 53B-6-105.5, which creates the Technology Initiative Advisory Board, is
109     repealed July 1, 2024.
110          (6) Section 53B-7-709, regarding five-year performance goals for the Utah System of
111     Higher Education is repealed July 1, 2027.
112          (7) Title 53B, Chapter 8a, Part 3, Education Savings Incentive Program, is repealed
113     July 1, 2028.
114          (8) Title 53B, Chapter 17, Part 11, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
115          (9) Section 53B-17-1203, which creates the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is
116     repealed January 1, 2025.
117          (10) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 16, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
118          (11) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 18, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure
119     Research Center, is repealed on July 1, 2028.
120          (12) Subsection 53C-3-203(4)(b)(vii), which provides for the distribution of money

121     from the Land Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells and other
122     hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
123          (13) Subsections 53E-3-503(5) and (6), which create coordinating councils for youth in
124     custody, are repealed July 1, 2027.
125          (14) In relation to a standards review committee, on January 1, 2028:
126          (a) in Subsection 53E-4-202(8), the language "by a standards review committee and the
127     recommendations of a standards review committee established under Section 53E-4-203" is
128     repealed; and
129          (b) Section 53E-4-203 is repealed.
130          (15) Section 53E-4-402, which creates the State Instructional Materials Commission, is
131     repealed July 1, 2027.
132          (16) Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, is
133     repealed July 1, 2033.
134          (17) Section 53F-2-420, which creates the Intensive Services Special Education Pilot
135     Program, is repealed July 1, 2024.
136          (18) Section 53F-5-213 is repealed July 1, 2023.
137          (19) Section 53F-5-214, in relation to a grant for professional learning, is repealed July
138     1, 2025.
139          (20) Section 53F-5-215, in relation to an elementary teacher preparation grant, is
140     repealed July 1, 2025.
141          (21) Section 53F-5-219, which creates the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot
142     Program, is repealed on July 1, 2025.
143          (22) Section 53F-5-222 is repealed July 1, 2027.
144          [(22)] (23) Subsection 53F-9-203(7), which creates the Charter School Revolving
145     Account Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
146          [(23)] (24) Subsections 53G-4-608(2)(b) and (4)(b), related to the Utah Seismic Safety
147     Commission, are repealed January 1, 2025.
148          [(24)] (25) Section 53G-9-212, Drinking water quality in schools, is repealed July 1,
149     2027.
150          [(25)] (26) Title 53G, Chapter 10, Part 6, Education Innovation Program, is repealed
151     July 1, 2027.

152          Section 3. Section 63I-1-253 (Contingently Effective 01/01/25) is amended to read:
153          63I-1-253 (Contingently Effective 01/01/25). Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
154          (1) Section 53-2a-105, which creates the Emergency Management Administration
155     Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
156          (2) Sections 53-2a-1103 and 53-2a-1104, which create the Search and Rescue Advisory
157     Board, are repealed July 1, 2027.
158          (3) Section 53-2d-703 is repealed July 1, 2027.
159          (4) Section 53-5-703, which creates the Concealed Firearm Review Board, is repealed
160     July 1, 2024.
161          (5) Section 53B-6-105.5, which creates the Technology Initiative Advisory Board, is
162     repealed July 1, 2024.
163          (6) Section 53B-7-709, regarding five-year performance goals for the Utah System of
164     Higher Education is repealed July 1, 2027.
165          (7) Title 53B, Chapter 8a, Part 3, Education Savings Incentive Program, is repealed
166     July 1, 2028.
167          (8) Title 53B, Chapter 17, Part 11, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
168          (9) Section 53B-17-1203, which creates the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is
169     repealed January 1, 2025.
170          (10) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 16, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
171          (11) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 18, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure
172     Research Center, is repealed on July 1, 2028.
173          (12) Subsection 53C-3-203(4)(b)(vii), which provides for the distribution of money
174     from the Land Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells and other
175     hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
176          (13) Subsections 53E-3-503(5) and (6), which create coordinating councils for youth in
177     custody, are repealed July 1, 2027.
178          (14) In relation to a standards review committee, on January 1, 2028:
179          (a) in Subsection 53E-4-202(8), the language "by a standards review committee and the
180     recommendations of a standards review committee established under Section 53E-4-203" is
181     repealed; and
182          (b) Section 53E-4-203 is repealed.

183          (15) Section 53E-4-402, which creates the State Instructional Materials Commission, is
184     repealed July 1, 2027.
185          (16) Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, is
186     repealed July 1, 2033.
187          (17) Section 53F-2-420, which creates the Intensive Services Special Education Pilot
188     Program, is repealed July 1, 2024.
189          (18) Section 53F-5-213 is repealed July 1, 2023.
190          (19) Section 53F-5-214, in relation to a grant for professional learning, is repealed July
191     1, 2025.
192          (20) Section 53F-5-215, in relation to an elementary teacher preparation grant, is
193     repealed July 1, 2025.
194          (21) Section 53F-5-219, which creates the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot
195     Program, is repealed on July 1, 2025.
196          (22) Section 53F-5-222 is repealed July 1, 2027.
197          [(22)] (23) (a) Subsection 53F-9-201.1(2)(b)(ii), in relation to the use of funds from a
198     loss in enrollment for certain fiscal years, is repealed on July 1, 2030.
199          (b) On July 1, 2030, the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall
200     renumber the remaining subsections accordingly.
201          [(23)] (24) Subsection 53F-9-203(7), which creates the Charter School Revolving
202     Account Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
203          [(24)] (25) Subsections 53G-4-608(2)(b) and (4)(b), related to the Utah Seismic Safety
204     Commission, are repealed January 1, 2025.
205          [(25)] (26) Section 53G-9-212, Drinking water quality in schools, is repealed July 1,
206     2027.
207          [(26)] (27) Title 53G, Chapter 10, Part 6, Education Innovation Program, is repealed
208     July 1, 2027.
209          Section 4. Appropriation.
210          The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
211     2024, and ending June 30, 2025. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
212     fiscal year 2025.
213          Subsection 4(a). Operating and Capital Budgets.

214          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
215     Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
216     the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
217     
ITEM 1
     To State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic
218     School Programs
219      From Income Tax Fund$500,000
220      Schedule of Programs:
221      Grants for Educators for High-need
Schools
$500,000

222          Section 5. Effective date.
223          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
224          (2) The actions affecting Section 63I-1-253 (Contingently Effective 01/01/25)
225     contingently take effect on January 1, 2025.