CivicClerk Meeting Agendas

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Beginning August 1, 2019 the Utah State Board of Education will begin using CivicClerk as its Agenda Management Tool. If you have any questions, please contact Board Secretary, Cybil Child at (801) 538-7517 or via e-mail at cybil.child@schools.utah.gov.

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Board Summary

September 7, 2023 Board Meeting

The Utah State Board of Education: 

• Approved mathematics standards to start the revision process.
• Reviewed and approved draft funding requests for the 2024 Legislative Session.
• Approved staff recommendations regarding the Voted and Board Local Levy Program.
• Celebrated progress in Utah mathematics.
• Approved requests for statutory changes.
• Full agenda

Board Approves Mathematics Standards to Start Revision Process

The Utah State Board of Education gave approval to staff to begin the review and revision process for the mathematics standards using the approved process for standards revision. As per Board Policy 3002, staff submitted the public feedback results of an annual analysis of each of the core standards, which included a summary of the annual core standards survey responses. With this information, the Board determined to move forward in the process for mathematics standards revision.

For additional information, please contact: 

Jennifer Throndsen
Director of Teaching and Learning
Phone: (801) 538-7739 | E-mail

Board Directs Staff to Develop Requests for Legislative Funding

The Utah State Board of Education voted in favor of creating legislative funding requests for the upcoming 2024 Legislative Session. Discussion allowed for the identification of potential needs for Utah's K-12 education community that could be addressed with additional funding. Some needs that were identified as funding priorities were:

• An increase to the weighted pupil unit (WPU), which will be determined during the October Board meeting.
• The Grow your Own Educator Pipeline Program.
• Dual Language Immersion.
• The creation of a platform to support implementation of sensitive instructional materials requirements.

For additional information, please contact: 

Scott Jones
Deputy Superintendent of Operations
Phone: (801) 538-7615 | E-mail

Deborah Jacobsen
Assistant Superintendent of Operations
Phone: (801) 538-7627 | E-mail

Board Approves Staff Recommendations Regarding the Voted and Board Local Levy Program

The Utah State Board of Education approved the recommendations made by staff regarding the Voted and Board Local Levy Program (V&B Program). The V&B Program is a state-supported property tax guarantee program. To qualify for funding appropriated by the state, a school district must levy a tax on property within the school district. If the property tax generates less revenue per weighted pupil unit (WPU) than the amount guaranteed by the state, the district will receive an allocation from the state for the difference. For the past two tax years, property tax collections have been higher than projected, causing state allocations from the V&B Program to decrease significantly.

To address this, the Board voted to consolidate Voted and Board calculations into a single spreadsheet tab and create a funding/policy request that consolidates state funding allocations from six to two. Additionally, the Board will request 66 million dollars of one-time funding during the 2024 Legislative Session so that districts are held harmless from any loss of funds due to changes in funding related to the V&B Program.

For additional information, please contact: 

Dale Frost
Minimum School Program Coordinator
Phone: (801) 538-7500 | E-mail

Board Celebrates Progress in Utah Mathematics

The Utah State Board of Education heard a presentation from staff on progress in early learning, elementary, and secondary mathematics. There have been many successes across the state. Some of the data points highlighted in the presentation were: a 5% increase in the number of first through third graders who demonstrated typical or better progress in Acadience math scores from the 2021-2022 to the 2022-2023 school year; an increase over the past two years in math proficiency among students in grades three through five; and a 42% increase from 2012 to 2020 in the number of ninth grade students with disabilities earning grade-level math credit. Additionally, Utah was the only state to not see a statistically significant decline in 2022 eighth grade math scores.

For additional information, please contact: 

Lindsey Henderson
Secondary Mathematics Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7650 | E-mail

Board Approves Requests for Statutory Changes 

Following a staff-led discussion on proposed policy and statutory requests and recommendations for the 2024 Legislative Session, the Utah State Board of Education directed staff to work with legislators on potential amendments to the Utah Code as proposed. Some of the proposals include:

• An amendment to Section 53G-9-703 to allow local education agencies to offer a seminar for parents related to student mental health, bullying, and safety (safety seminar) on a Saturday; and permit the school district or charter school to offer a safety seminar through a virtual platform.
• An amendment to 53G-10-503 to increase the Drivers Education Reimbursement cap from $100 to $150 and remove language that would prevent LEAs from using surplus funding to subsidize driver education.
• A request to combine the Carson Smith Scholarship Program and the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program (SNOPS) by rolling the SNOPS program into the Carson Smith Scholarship Program.

For additional information, please contact: 

Angie Stallings
Deputy Superintendent of Policy
Phone: (801) 538-7656 | E-mail

Greg Connell
Policy Analyst
Phone: (801) 538-7957 | E-mail

Board Approves Intensive Services Program Sunset Recommendation

The Utah State Board of Education made a recommendation for the sunset of the Intensive Services Special Education Pilot Program under Utah code 53F-2-420. The sunset would not affect the Board’s ability to provide Intensive Services funding to LEAs, and USBE would still use Federal (IDEA) funds to provide subgrants to LEAs.   The Board noted that the Special Education Intensive Services Fund, under R277-752, would still be in effect, and directed staff to communicate to legislators that special education intensive service funding needs are still present.

For additional information, please contact: 

Dr. Leah Voorhies
Assistant Superintendent of Student Support
Phone: (801) 538-7898 | E-mail

Greg Connell
Policy Analyst
Phone: (801) 538-7957 | E-mail

Board Approves Funds for Two New Literacy Coaches

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) approved one-time funds from the tax-delay balances in the amount of $267,000 for the purpose of the Southeast Education Service Center (SESC) RESA hiring of two new literacy coaches for the 2024 school year. The two literacy coaches will serve in the San Juan School District, the Emery County School District, and at a local charter school.

For additional information, please contact: 

Scott Jones
Deputy Superintendent of Operations
Phone: (801) 538-7615 | E-mail

Board Approves English Learner Research Data Sharing Agreement with University of Virginia

The Utah State Board of Education approved a research data sharing agreement with the University of Virginia for a study titled, "Waived English Learners: A Multistate Exploration of an Overlooked English Learner Subgroup.” This agreement allows de-identified student-level data to be shared for a study regarding English learner students.

For additional information, please contact: 

Katy Challis
Director of Privacy
Phone: (801) 538-7894 | E-mail 

Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) Board Meeting Highlights

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind Board met to discuss billing contracts for Canyons, Granite, and Tooele School districts. They also provided a monthly budget update.

For additional information, please contact: 

Joel Coleman
Superintendent for Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind
Phone: (801) 629-4700 | E-mail

Board reappoints Joel Coleman as Superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

The Board reappointed Joel Coleman as the Superintendent to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind. The Board Leadership stated their thanks to Superintendent Coleman for his continued years of service.

For additional information, please contact: 

Joel Coleman
Superintendent for Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind
Phone: (801) 629-4700 | E-mail

Board Appoints Individuals to the Utah Special Education Advisory Panel

To gain valuable feedback from community experts, the Utah State Board of Education created the Utah Special Education Advisory Panel in alignment with Board Policy 5006. The Board appointed the following individuals to serve on the panel.

Parent of Students with Disabilities: Katuska Christensen

Parent of Students with Disabilities: Julie Thompson

Parent of Students with Disabilities: Rebecca Sybrowksy

Charter School Special Education Program Implementers: Kimberly Townes

Individuals Who Are Homeless: Mark Gardner

Teacher of Students with Disabilities: Audryn Damron

For additional information, please contact: 

Dr. Leah Voorhies
Assistant Superintendent of Student Support
Phone: (801) 538-7898 | E-mail

New Administrative Rules, Repeals, Amendments Approved

The Utah State Board of Education approved the following new administrative rules, administrative rule amendments, and administrative rule repeals:

• R277-484, Data Standards. This rule is being amended to include updated terminology and language regarding LEA reporting of educator data.
• R277-629, Paid Professional Hours for Educators. This rule is being amended to clarify legislative intent about the use of educator funds.
• R277-701, Early College Programs. This rule is being amended to reflect funding distribution changes resulting from B. 189.
• R277-439, Prevention Block Grant Program. This rule is being created after the passage of B. 16 and provides guidance to LEAs about designing and implementing a comprehensive prevention program, technical assistance to LEA prevention needs, and outlines targeted professional learning opportunities in evidence-based prevention practices.
• R277-927, Teacher and Student Success. This rule is being amended to reflect the removal of the requirement for the Board to publish an overall rating for school accountability.
• R277-419, Pupil Accounting. This rule is being amended to avoid expiration.
• R277-620, Suicide Prevention Programs. This rule is being reviewed and continued prior to its expiration on October 5, 2023.
• R277-922, Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program. This rule is being amended to clarify that the digital readiness assessment is only required to be completed the first time an LEA applies for the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program.
• R277-474-5, School Instruction and Sex Education. This rule is being amended after the passage of B. 348.
• R277-700-7, The Elementary and Secondary School General Core. This rule is being amended after the passage of B. 348.
• R277-415, School Nurses Matching Fund. This rule is being amended to continue necessary reporting requirements.
• R277-437, Open Enrollment. This rule is being continued after its five-year review, as it is set to expire on October 5, 2023.
• R277-626, Special Needs opportunity Scholarship Program. This rule is being amended to include updated statutory references following B. 398, and to add requirements for effective monitoring of qualifying schools.
• R277-718, Out-of-School Time Program Quality Improvement Grants. This rule is being continued after its five-year review, as it is set to expire on October 16, 2023.
• R277-552, Charter School Timelines and Approval Processes. This rule is being amended to reflect Law and Licensing Committee suggestions.
• R277-406, Early Learning Program and Benchmark Assessments. This rule is being amended to facilitate the Board’s designation of a kindergarten assessment.
• R277-489, Kindergarten Programs and Assessment. This rule is being amended to reflect the implications of B. 477.
• R277-419-4, Pupil Accounting. This section of rule is being amended to eliminate the number of days available for LEAs to use exclusively for assessment of kindergarten students.
• Board Policy 1004, Advisory Groups. The board approved a change to Board Policy 1004, which outlines Board Member participation in advisory groups.
• Board Policy 5003, Student Data Policy Advisory Group (Amendment). The Board approved amendments to Board Policy 5003, which outlines the policy surrounding the Student Data Policy Advisory Group (SDPAG). The amendments will update and clarify policy around group membership.

Board Approves Consent Calendar

The Utah State Board of Education approved its consent calendar.

Highlights of Friday’s Committee Meetings and Study Session

The Utah State Board of Education Law and Licensing, Standards and Assessment, and Finance Committees will meet on Friday, September 8. Members of the public who wish to virtually comment on items on committee agendas should contact the executive assistant of the committee via email prior to meeting. Public comment is at the discretion of committee chairs.

Items approved in committee meetings will be heard by the full Board during its October 5 meeting.

Law and Licensing Committee will meet in a hybrid format from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the option to join virtually. Highlights of the meeting include:

• Preliminary approval of the State Charter School Board's New Satellite School and Large Expansion Requests.
• Preliminary approval of R277-925, Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.

Standards and Assessment Committee will meet in a hybrid format from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with the option to join virtually. Highlights of the meeting include:

• Preliminary approval of R277-326, Early Learning (Amendment).
• Preliminary approval of R277-604, Private School, Home School, and Bureau of Indian Education Student Participation in Public School Achievement Tests.

Finance Committee will meet online only from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Highlights of the meeting include:

• Preliminary approval of R277-113 LEA Fiscal and Auditing Policies.
• Preliminary approval of State Fiscal Year 2023 Discretionary Carry Forward Balance Status and Approval for Use.

Meeting Minutes