Educator Incentive Programs

Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators (SHiNE)

In 2024 General Session, SB 173 created the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators (SHiNE) program.  This program will take the place of the Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP) in the 2025-2026 school year.  The intent of the bill is to allow individual LEAs to determine which teachers are highly needed in their schools.  A highly needed educator means a teacher who is filling a position that is challenging to fill or retain. Funds will be allocated to LEAs based on student enrollment count and disbursed to LEAs in 1/12^th payments.

Please contact your school district or charter school for SHiNE applications.

LEA Resources:

SHiNE Guidance Document FY26

SHiNE LEA High Needs Areas Report

FY26 LEA SHiNE Funding

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification (NBPTS)

“National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.”

The NBPTS Bonus and Pre-payment Programs were established by the Utah Legislature and Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to reward and retain qualified educators who earn a National Board Certification, and to assist with the fees affiliated with obtaining and maintaining this Certification. 

NBPTS Program Frequently Asked Questions Educator/Applicant

NBPTS Program Frequently Asked Questions LEA Administrator

NBPTS Program Bonus Program Qualifications

NBPTS Program Definitions

NBPTS Program History

NBPTS Program Payment Process

NBPTS Pre-Payment Program Enrollment Steps

Note: New applications must be submitted between July 1 and January 31 for each program year.

NBPTS Program Terms and Conditions

If you are looking for professional learning resources, the NBPTS offers the following:

• Core Connections Webinars
• Accomplished Teaching, Learning, and Schools (ATLAS)

For assistance through the NBPTS certification process and to join the Utah National Board Coalition, please contact them at UtahNBCT@gmail.com.

Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools (ETHPS)

The ETHPS was established by the Utah Legislature to reward and retain qualified educators who are employed in a high poverty school and show a Median Growth Percentile (MGP) of 70 or higher in a course for which a standards assessment is administered or teach grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, or 3 and achieve at least 85% of students whose progress is assessed as typical or better.

ETHPS Frequently Asked Questions Local Education Agency (LEA) Administrators

ETHPS Frequently Asked Questions Teachers

ETHPS History

School Year (SY) 2024-2025

ETHPS Eligible Schools

Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP)

Please note that the 2024-2025 school year will be the final funding opportunity under the current TSSP.  The Utah Legislature approved the new Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators (SHiNE) Program in the 2024 session that will go into effect July 1, 2025.  Please contact your employing local education agency (LEA) for information about the new salary supplement program qualifications.

The TSSP was established by the Utah Legislature to reward and retain qualified educators in specific subject areas that have been identified with staffing shortages. Please review the following information to verify that you qualify for TSSP. Information and program deadlines can be found on the TSSP Service Site.

TSSP Frequently Asked Questions Educator/Applicant

TSSP Frequently Asked Questions LEA Administrator

TSSP Definitions

TSSP History

TSSP Terms and Conditions

Note: New applications must be submitted between October 1 and April 30 for each program year.

Qualifications

TSSP Bonus Program Qualifications

TSSP Payment Process

TSSP Subject Area Requirements
Includes: Chemistry, Physical Science, Physics, Secondary Mathematics, Computer Science, Deaf Education, and Special Education

TSSP Substantially Equivalent Degrees

Program Appeals

TSSP Appeal Application

Program appeals for the TSSP are used for degree consideration or assignment history only. You must first submit your TSSP Application for the current program year at the TSSP Service Site. Upon notification that you are ineligible, review the Frequently Asked Questions and follow the directions listed on the Appeal Application. It is recommended that appeals be submitted as soon as possible to allow appropriate processing and review time by the TSSP Panel.

If a payment term deadline is passed while an appeal is pending, any approved bonus will be awarded in full at the end of the program year. Please note that incomplete appeals will not be processed, and all appeals must be received before May 31 of the program year. Appeal results will be posted in the Audit History section of the application and notification will be e-mailed to the educator.

If your application has been denied due to an assignment, endorsement issue, or by your Local Education Agency (LEA), contact your Human Resources for possible resolution options.