This bill establishes a grant program to help local education agencies create or expand catalyst centers.
This bill:
- creates the Catalyst Center Grant Program (program) to support local education agencies (LEA) in creating or expanding catalyst centers;
- allows for multi-year grants and capital expenditures;
- requires alignment with labor market needs, LEA strategic plans, and state career and technical education goals;
- establishes accountability measures, including limits on carryforward funds and annual reporting;
- requires Talent Ready Utah and the Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education to create a marketing campaign for the program;
- exempts certain individuals from educator licensing requirements;
- amends the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account to fund the program;
- creates requirements related to art and fine arts credits; and
- makes technical changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53E-6-204, 53F-9-204
Substitute #1: 53E-6-204, 53F-9-204