R277-618. Teen Center Grant Program

R277.  Education, Administration.

R277-618.  Teen Center Grant Program.

R277-618-1.  Authority and Purpose.

          (1)  This rule is authorized by:

          (a)  Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board;

          (b)  Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law.

          (2)  The purpose of this rule is to provide:

          (a)  the criteria for ranking applications for a teen center grant to serve students experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable and at-risk students;

          (b)  the funding limit and allowable uses; and

          (c)  the required data collection for measuring success of the grant.

R277-618-2.  Definitions.

          (1)  "Eligible school" means a public K-12 school with a physical building.

          (2)  "Family service worker" or "FSW" means a school employee who connects families and parents with the resources needed to self-sustain and thrive, including:

          (a)  identify physical and emotional self-care;

          (b)  stress-coping mechanisms; and

          (c)  advocate for the family's needs.

          (3)  "Free application for student federal aid" or "FAFSA" means the official form to apply for federal financial aid to pay for college provided by the Department of Education.

          (4)  "Wrap-around services" means services that bring families, providers, and key members of the family's social support network together to collaborate to build a customized plan of care that responds to the unique needs of the child and family.

R277-618-3.  Application and Scoring Criteria.

          (1)  Subject to legislative appropriation, an LEA may apply for the teen center grant.

          (2)  An LEA's application shall include the following:

          (a)  capacity of the LEA to staff the center with a FSW that will provide wrap-around services for the students;

          (b)  a demonstration of the ability to provide students, including students experiencing homelessness, with assistance, guidance, and connection to necessary resources;

          (c)  the ability to provide the services within the center, that may include:

          (i)  a food pantry that is community-based allowing access to food services;

          (ii)  showers and hygiene necessities;

          (iii)  laundry facilities, including a washer and dryer;

          (iv)  academic advisement, including:

          (A)  FAFSA applications for grants and loans; and

          (B)  work study funds available at universities and tech colleges;

          (v)  collaboration with community partners to provide access to:

          (A)  mental, dental, medical, and vision services;

          (B)  wellness space and resources;

          (C)  spiritual and religious resources; and

          (D)  technical job training before graduation;

          (d)  readiness of facilities to house a teen center at an eligible school, including general construction plans, if required;

          (e)  quantitative or qualitative data to demonstrate the need for a teen center;

          (f)  a budget outlining the intended use of the grant funds;

          (g)  a timeline for achieving an operational teen center; and

          (h)  ability to maintain and keep the teen center operational over time.

          (3)  An LEA shall apply for the grant in a form and within the deadlines specified by the Superintendent.

          (4)  An LEA's application shall be scored and ranked by the Superintendent based upon the overall:

          (a)  demonstrated need for a teen center;

          (b)  quality of the budget proposal and timeline as described in Subsection (2); and

          (c)  capacity to maintain an operational teen center, as described in Subsection (2).

          (5)  The Superintendent may prioritize schools that:

          (a)  serve any grade between 9-12; or

          (b)  prioritize services for students experiencing homelessness.

          (6)  The Superintendent shall select and notify grant awardees within 30 days of the application deadline.

R277-618-4.  Funding and Measurements of Success.

          (1)  A grant awardee may receive up to $250,000 per eligible school on a reimbursement basis.

          (2)  A grant awardee shall submit for reimbursement in a form and timeline determined by the Superintendent.

          (3)  A grant awardee may only be reimbursed for expenditures outlined within the grant awardee's budget submitted as part of the application described in Subsection R277-618-3(2).

          (4)  A grant awardee may seek a budget variance from the Superintendent if the variance is sought before the expenditure of funds for the variance.

          (5)  The Superintendent shall review and approve or deny a variance request within 30 days of receiving the request.

          (6)  A grant awardee shall collect the following data to measure success of the teen center:

          (a)  the number of students that are served by the teen center annually; and

          (b)  participation of community partners.

          (7)  A grant awardee shall provide the data described in Subsection (6) to the Superintendent upon request.

KEY:  at-risk students, teen center, grant

Date of Last Change:  August 22, 2023

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

Status of Rule

Effective August 22, 2023

Five-year review October 12, 2027

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Oversight Framework

Uncategorized

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Related Utah Law

Public Education Statutes
None

Other Statutes
None

USBE Administrative Rules
R277-100, Definitions for USBE Rules

Related Federal Law

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

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Resources

None

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Contact Information

Primary Contact:
Janiece Seegmiller
janiece.seegmiller@schools.utah.gov
Student Services

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This page was last updated on January 26, 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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