This bill amends provisions and programs regarding the operation of the public education system.
This bill:
- removes duplicative language regarding a college and career readiness plan;
- amends the Teacher Salary Supplement Program and the upcoming replacement Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program to allow a local education agency (LEA) that experiences a carry forward or leftover balance to increase the amount the LEA provides to teachers under certain circumstances;
- adds the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as an LEA that may participate in the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program;
- increases the portion of appropriated funding the State Board of Education (state board) is statutorily authorized to expend for administrative costs for early literacy software, including the cost of an independent software evaluator;
- amends provisions regarding kindergarten to:
allow a child to enroll in kindergarten if the child moves to Utah after having enrolled in kindergarten in another state with different age requirements for enrollment; andrepeal a requirement for the state board to create a process for an LEA to follow when an enrolled student in kindergarten is not toilet-trained;
- amends provisions regarding early learning plans to:reduce requirements for the plans that LEAs submit to the state board; andrepeal a requirement for the state board to use a digital platform to communicate with LEAs regarding early learning;
- amends provisions related to school fees to ensure that a school is not prohibited from charging a fee for a fine arts course; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.
Recommended by: Education Interim CommitteeStatutes affected:
Introduced: 53E-2-304, 53F-2-504, 53F-4-203, 53G-4-402, 53G-7-203, 53G-7-218, 53G-7-503