R277-443. Distribution of Money to Science Outreach Organizations

R277.  Education, Administration.

R277-443.  Distribution of Money to Science Outreach Organizations.

R277-443-1.  Authority, Purpose, and Oversight Category.

          (1)  This rule is authorized by:

          (a)  Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision of the public school system with the Board;

          (b)  Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities; and

          (c)  Section 53E-3-501, which directs the Board to establish rules and standards for the public schools, including curriculum and instruction requirements.

          (2)  The purpose of this rule is to provide for the distribution of money appropriated by the state to a science organization that:

          (a)  provides an educational service to a student or teacher; and

          (b)  facilitates a student developing and using the knowledge, skills, and dispositions defined in a science core standard.

          (3)  This Rule R277-443 is categorized as Category 3 as described in Rule R277-111.

R277-443-2.  Definitions.

          (1)  "City" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Subsection 10-1-104(1).

          (2)  "Community" means the group of persons that have an interest or involvement in the education of a person in kindergarten through grade 12, including:

          (a)  a student, parent, teacher, and administrator; and

          (b)  an association or council that represents a person described in Subsection (2)(a).

          (3)  "Core standard" means a standard:

          (a)  established by the Board in Rule R277-700 as required by Section 53E-3-501; and

          (b)  that defines the knowledge and skills a student should have in kindergarten through grade 12 to enable a student to be prepared for college or workforce training.

          (4)  "Cost effectiveness" means:

          (a)  maximization of the educational service available through the organization; and

          (b)  not using money received through a program for the necessary maintenance and operational costs of the organization.

          (5)(a) "Educational service" means an in-depth instructional workshop, demonstration, classroom experience, presentation, tour, exhibit, teacher professional development, side-by-side mentoring, hands-on activity, field trip, or teachers resources that:

          (i)  relates to a science core standard and

          (ii)  takes place in a public school, charter school, professional venue, or a facility;

          (b)  "Educational service" may include a distance experience or virtual programming that is provided from a remote location if done in addition to outreach programming.

          (6)  "Educational soundness" means an educational service that:

          (a)  is designed with effective science instruction for the grade level being served;

          (b)  features students or teachers engaging in hands-on activities;

          (c)  focuses on a specific science core standard; and

          (d)  shows continuous improvement guided by analysis of an evaluative tool.

          (7)  "Fiscal agent" means a city that:

          (a)  is designated by an organization as described in Subsection R277-443-4(4); and

          (b)  acts on behalf of an organization to perform financial or compliance duties.

          (8)  "Hands-on activity" means an activity that includes active involvement of a student as a scientist by engaging with practices from the field.

          (9)  "Informal Science Education Enhancement program" or "iSEE program" means a program described in Section R277-443-7 for which a science organization may apply to receive money appropriated by the state.

          (10)  "Organization" means:

          (a)  a nonprofit corporation organized under:

          (i)  Title 16, Chapter 6a, Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act; or

          (ii)  Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code; and

          (b)  a science organization.

          (11)  "Outreach programming" means a type of educational service that is an in-depth classroom experience which includes hands-on activities that relates to a specific science core standard relevant to the classroom's grade level and takes place within a public school or charter school.

          (12)  "Procedural efficiency" means the organization delivers the educational service at the lowest cost possible.

          (13)  "Professional excellence" means the organization:

          (a)  has an educational team who are well-versed in current scientific knowledge and educational practices;

          (b)  provides educational services which are engaging, inspire curiosity, and interest in science;

          (c)  provides educational services which exhibit educational soundness;

          (d)  provides educational services which are accessible to all who participate, regardless of background or ability; and

          (e)  has a system in place for evaluating the effectiveness of the provided educational services and continuously improves them based on feedback and new research in science education.

          (14)(a)  "Program" means the system through which the Board grants money appropriated by the state to an organization to enable the organization to provide its expertise and resources through an educational service in the teaching of a science core standard.

          (b)  "Program" includes:

          (i)  the provisional program; and

          (ii)  the iSEE program;

          (15)  "Science organization" means a professional science organization that provides a science-related educational service in the state.

R277-443-3.  Program Application.

          (1)  If the state appropriates money for a program, an organization may apply to receive money from a program:

          (a)  on an application form provided by the Superintendent; and

          (b)  during the fiscal year immediately before the fiscal year in which the organization is to receive the money.

          (2)  The application shall include:

          (a)  documentation that the organization is:

          (i)  a nonprofit corporation that has existed at least three consecutive years before the date of the application;

          (ii)  a science organization that has attained professional excellence in the discipline; and

          (iii)  fiscally responsible and can practice procedural efficiency;

          (b)  a description of the matching funds required by Subsection R277-443-4(2);

          (c)  an educational service plan, which describes:

          (i)  the educational service that the organization will use the program money to provide; and

          (ii)  a budget designed for cost effectiveness to effectively provide the educational service; and

          (d)  any supplemental documentation to comply with state law and this rule as requested by the superintendent.

          (3)  The Superintendent shall evaluate and approve or deny an application based on:

          (a)  whether the organization meets the requirements of this rule; and

          (b)  how well the organization's educational service plan meets the purpose of this rule.

R277-443-4.  Grant General Provisions and Disbursement.

          (1)  The Superintendent shall disburse the appropriated money to an organization in a form and manner consistent with Section 63G-6b-201 and 301.

          (2)  An organization that receives money from a program shall have equal matching money from another source to support its delivery of an educational service.

          (3)(a)  An organization may not charge the school, teacher, or student a fee for the outreach programming for which the organization receives program money.

          (b)  An organization cannot charge a fee for any educational services that are supported by iSEE funding.

          (4)(a)  An organization may designate a city as the organization's fiscal agent if:

          (i)  the city's governing body oversees and monitors the organization and fiscal agent's compliance with program requirements;

          (ii)  the city complies with board rules;

          (iii)  the city and the organization use program money for required purposes described in this rule; and

          (iv)  the city and the organization have an agreement or contract in place regarding the designation of the city as the organization's fiscal agent.

          (b)  A city fiscal agent may not use program money:

          (i)  for the city's general administrative purposes; or

          (ii)  to fund administrative costs to act as the organization's fiscal agent.

          (5)  The final disbursement of funds may not be made until after the year-end report has been received.

R277-443-5.  Year-end Report - Evaluation -- Accountability -- Variations.

          (1)(a)  An organization that receives money from a program shall submit a year-end report to the Superintendent by the required annual deadline.

          (b)  The year-end report shall include:

          (i)  documentation of the organization's nonprofit status;

          (ii)  a budget expenditure report and income source report using a form provided by the Superintendent, including a report and accounting of matching funds and a fee charged, if any, for an educational service;

          (iii)  a summary of the program's performance measures;

          (iv)  a record of the dates and places of all educational services provided, the number of hours of educational service per LEA, school, and classroom, as applicable, with the number of students and teachers served, including:

          (A)  documentation of the schools that have been offered an opportunity to receive outreach programming over a three year period, to the extent possible and consistent with the organization's plan;

          (B)  a description of the outreach programming, including the content and effective science instructional practices, that are relevant to the grade level being served and a core standard;

          (C)  a brief description of the educational service provided through the program, and if requested, copies of any material developed; and

          (D)  a description of how the educational service contributed to a student developing and using the knowledge, skills, and dispositions defined in a science core standard;

          (v)  a summary of the organization's evaluation of:

          (A)  cost effectiveness;

          (B)  procedural efficiency;

          (C)  collaborative practices;

          (D)  educational soundness; and

          (E)  professional excellence.

          (vi)  a description of the results of an evaluation system as prescribed by the Superintendent and any implemented improvements based on feedback and new research in science education.

          (2)  The Superintendent may visit an organization to evaluate the effectiveness and preparation of the organization:

          (a)  before the Superintendent approves an application;

          (b)  before disbursing money; and

          (c)  during an educational service.

          (3)(a)  In addition to the year-end report required by Subsection (1), the Superintendent may require an evaluation or a monitoring procedure demonstrating use of money consistent with state law and this rule.

          (b)  If the Superintendent finds that an organization did not use money received from a program consistent with state law and this rule, the Board may:

          (i)  reduce or eliminate the grant to the organization in the current fiscal year;

          (ii)  deny an organization's participation in a program in a future fiscal year; or

          (iii)  impose any other consequence the Board deems necessary to ensure the proper use of public funds.

          (4)(a)  An organization may not deviate from the approved educational service plan for which the organization receives money unless:

          (i)  the organization submits a written request for variation to the Superintendent;

          (ii)  the organization receives approval from the Superintendent for the variation; and

          (iii)  the variation is consistent with state law and this rule.

          (b)  An organization shall describe the nature and justification for a variation approved under Subsection (4)(a) in a year-end report.

          (5)  The Superintendent shall ensure that participating LEAs receive educational services in a balanced and comprehensive manner over a three year period.

          (6)  The year-end report shall only include the educational services that are supported by iSEE funding.

R277-443-6.  Provisional Program Requirements.

          (1)  Through the provisional program, and pending legislative funding, the Board may grant an organization money to enable the organization to:

          (a)  develop outreach programming that is sound;

          (b)  increase the number of students or teachers who receive outreach programming; or

          (c)  expand the geographical location in which the outreach programming is delivered.

          (2)  An organization may apply for a provisional program grant each year for up to five years if the organization demonstrates an increase in the educational service between the year-end report and the proposed educational service plan described in the application.

          (3)(a)  A science organization may apply for the iSEE program if the organization:

          (i)  has successfully participated in the provisional program for three consecutive years in which the state appropriates money to the provisional program;

          (ii)  has educational staff and the capacity to deliver outreach programming state-wide; and

          (iii)  demonstrates during participation in the provisional program:

          (A)  the quality and improvement of outreach programming;

          (B)  fiscal responsibility;

          (C)  cost effectiveness;

          (D)  procedural efficiency;

          (E)  collaborative practices;

          (F)  educational soundness; and

          (G)  professional excellence.

          (b)  An organization shall submit a letter of intent to transition from the provisional program to the iSEE program to the Superintendent by October 1 of the calendar year immediately before the calendar year in which the organization submits the application for the iSEE program.

R277-443-7.  iSEE Program Requirements.

          (1)(a)  Through the iSEE program, the Superintendent may grant money to a science organization to provide an educational service state-wide.

          (b)  A grant from the iSEE program is ongoing, subject to the review required by Subsection (3).

          (2)  An organization that receives money from the iSEE program may not receive money from the Provisional program in the same fiscal year.

          (3)(a)  At least once every four years, the Superintendent shall review and evaluate all organizations' participation in the iSEE program, which may include:

          (i)  evaluation of an educational service plan, or year-end report;

          (ii)  attendance at outreach or a site visit; and

          (iii)  financial monitoring.

          (b)  The Superintendent shall:

          (i)  report to the Board the results of the review and evaluation; and

          (ii)  make a recommendation to the Board regarding an organization's continued participation in the program based on how well the organization fulfills the purpose of this rule.

          (4)  iSEE organizations shall provide outreach programming as the primary focus, while other educational services are considered secondary. iSEE funding may be used for other educational services, but only as an adjunct to outreach programming.

          (5)  Each Utah school with the relevant science core standard of an iSEE program shall be offered an opportunity to receive that program's outreach programming at least once every three years.

          (6)  An iSEE program organization shall comply with state law.

KEY:  science, core standards, iSEE, grant programs

Date of Last Change:  October 8, 2024

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401(4); 53E-3-501

Status of Rule

Effective October 8, 2024

Five-year review October 8, 2029

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Oversight Framework

Category 3

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Related Utah Law

Public Education Statutes
53E-3-501

Other Statutes
63G-6b-201

63G-6b-301

USBE Administrative Rules
R277-100, Definitions for USBE Rules

R277-444, Distribution of Money to Arts and Science Organizations

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Related Federal Law

None

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Resources

Utah Grants

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Contact Information

Primary Contact:
Milo Maughan
milo.maughan@schools.utah.gov
Teaching and Learning

Secondary Contact:
Nathan Auck
nathan.auck@schools.utah.gov
Teaching and Learning

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This page was last updated on October 14, 2024.

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NOTE: The information on this webpage is provided as a service to users and the Utah State Board of Education is not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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