No. 29305 (New Rule): R277-511. Highly Qualified Teacher Grants

DAR File No.: 29305
Filed: 12/01/2006, 03:54
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this new rule is provide for a grant program to assist Utah teachers to become highly qualified in which school districts and charter schools may choose to participate and to establish a formula and time lines for distribution of funds to grant recipients.

Summary of the rule or change:

The rule provides for standards and procedures for distribution of grant funds, and responsibilities of grant recipients.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsection 53A-6-112(7)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to the state budget. A grant program was established and funded by the Utah Legislature to minimize out-of-pocket expenses of licensed teachers to obtain National Board certification, or take tests to meet federal highly qualified teacher standards as defined in 20 U.S.C. Sec. 7801. Existing State Office of Education staff will coordinate the grant program.

local governments:

There are no anticipated savings to school districts and charter schools. There will be costs to school districts and charter schools who participate in the grant program. Participating school districts and charter schools will agree to match all grant funds with equal school district or charter school funds. Participating school districts will match a minimum $5,000 base amount depending upon funding and participation, and participating charter schools will match a minimum $2,000 base amount depending upon funding and participation.

other persons:

There are no anticipated cost to other persons. School districts and charter schools participating in the grant program will reimburse teachers for out-of-pocket expenses. The grant provides $500,000 and savings to individual teachers are speculative. Based on the grant amount of $500,000, $200,000 for content tests, and $300,000 for National Board testing, 2,666 teachers could participate in content testing and be reimbursed $75 per test and 240 teachers could participate in the National Board Certification Program and be reimbursed $1,250.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are compliance costs for school districts and charter schools choosing to participate in the grant program because school districts will need to match a minimum $5,000 base amount depending upon funding and participation and charter schools will need to match a minimum $2,000 base amount depending upon funding and participation.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses. Patti Harrington, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

01/15/2007

This rule may become effective on:

01/23/2007

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-511. Highly Qualified Teacher Grants.

R277-511-1. Definitions.

A. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

B. "National Board Certification" means a current certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

C. "Test" means those tests required under R277-510 or others specifically identified that satisfy the highly qualified teacher standards of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), Title IX, Part A, 20 U.S.C. 7801, Section 9101(11).

D. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

 

R277-511-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board and Section 53A-6-112(7) which directs the Board to adopt rules to administer this program.

B. The purpose of this rule is to provide consistent definitions, to establish a grant program in which school districts and charter schools may choose to participate, and to establish a formula and timelines for distribution of funds to grant recipients.

 

R277-511-3. Responsibilities of Grant Recipients.

A. A school district or charter school that applies to participate in the Highly Qualified Teacher Grant Program shall agree to match all grant funds with equal school district or charter school funds.

B. Funds received in this program may be used only consistent with the following:

(1) Reimbursement to teachers for the cost of taking tests to meet federal NCLB highly qualified teacher standards;

(2) Reimbursement to teachers for testing fees and travel expenses specific to taking tests; and

(3) Reimbursement to teachers for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in obtaining National Board Certification including:

(a) expenses for materials, required textbooks or consumables, computer programs or technology, travel, tuition costs, fees, special enrollment/program fees, and

(b) other expenses approved by the USOE and necessary to complete the National Board Certification process.

C. Test preparation courses and other similar planning or preparatory expenses are not reimbursable.

 

R277-511-4. Distribution of Funds.

A. Funds shall be available to school districts and charter schools that complete an application and apply for funds based on the following formula:

(1) School districts shall be eligible for $5000 base awards;

(2) Charter schools shall be eligible for $2000 base awards;

(3) Funds remaining after school district/charter school base awards are allocated, shall be distributed to all approved applicants based on proportionate enrollment.

(4) All funds shall be expended no later than June 30, 2009.

B. Grant applications, provided by the USOE, shall be available to school districts and charter schools by December 1, 2006.

C. Completed grant applications shall be submitted to the USOE by January 15, 2007.

D. School districts and charter schools shall be notified of funding by February 15, 2007.

E. Grant recipients shall satisfy all requirements for funding under Section 53A-6-112 and R277-511-3.

F. Grant applications shall include an evaluation component which shall be provided to the USOE no later than September 1, 2009 or within 30 days of an earlier termination of the grant program.

G. Grant recipients shall report annually by August 1 for the previous school year the following:

(1) names of teacher participants;

(2) increased number of highly qualified teachers in the district or charter school; and

(3) increased number of teachers with National Board Certification.

 

KEY: highly qualified, teacher, grants

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-6-112(7)