NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE
1. Agency Information
Education, Administration
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200
2. Contact Persons
Elisse.newey@schools.utah.gov
Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.
3. General Information
A. Rule or section catchline:
R277-634. Grants and Scholarships
B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:
This new rule is created as a result of SB 244 during the 2026 General Session.
C. Summary of the new rule or change:
This rule establishes the authority, definitions, and administrative procedures necessary to oversee two newly mandated programs. Key provisions include:
1) General Administration Framework: Outlines the Superintendent's responsibilities to establish application timelines, determine eligibility, monitor compliance, and require corrective action when necessary.
It also tasks the Board with setting minimum eligibility thresholds, including standards for citizenship grades and attendance.
2) Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) Grant Program: Establishes a prioritization structure that distributes funds first to high-needs schools (designated as Title I) and second to rural schools.
3) Citizenship Scholarship Program: Directs the Superintendent to establish eligibility criteria focused on demonstrated exemplary citizenship grades (consistent with Section 53E-4-208) and student attendance records.
4. Legislative Action Information
A. Are any changes in this filing
because of state legislative action?
Changes are because of legislative action.
B. If yes, any bill number and
session:
SB 244 (2026 General Session)
5. Fiscal Information
Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:
This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on state government revenues or expenditures.
The rule changes are due to the passage of SB 244 in the 2026 General Session.
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) believes that any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note to SB 244 (2026).
This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures.
The rule changes are due to the passage of SB 244 (2026).
The USBE believes that any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note to SB 244 (2026).
C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):
This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on small businesses' revenues or expenditures.
This only applies to the USBE and Local Education Agencies (LEAs).
D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):
There are no non-small businesses in the industry in question, Elementary and Secondary Schools (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 611110). Because there are no non-small businesses, they do not account for any service delivery for Elementary and Secondary Schools. Therefore, non-small businesses are not expected to receive increased or decreased revenues per year. This proposed rule change is not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures because there are no applicable non-small businesses, and it does not require any expenditures of, or generate revenue for non-small businesses.
E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency):
This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impacts on revenues or expenditures for persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.
The rule changes are due to the passage of SB 244 (2026).
The USBE believes that any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note to SB 244 (2026).
F. Compliance costs for affected persons:
There are no compliance costs for affected persons.
The rule changes are due to the passage of SB 244 (2026).
The USBE believes that any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note to SB 244 (2026).
6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table
Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable."
7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval
The State Superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, Molly Hart, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis.
8. Family Impact Information
A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and formation:
9. Citation Information
Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:
Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 3
11. Public Notice Information
The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.
A. Comments will be accepted until:
12. Effective Date Information
This rule change MAY become effective on:
(NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date)
13. Agency Authorization Information
Agency head or
designee and title:
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy
R277. Education, Administration.
R277-634. Grants and Scholarships. R277-634-1. 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; (c) Section 53H-11-416, which requires the Board to administer a citizenship scholarship program; and (d) Section 53G-9-216, which requires the Board to administer a cardiac emergency response plan grant program. (2) The purpose of this rule is to: (a) establish procedures for administering Board-authorized grant and scholarship programs; (b) implement the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan grant program as defined in ; and (c) implement the Citizenship Scholarship Program as defined in. (1) "AED" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-216. (2) "Cardiac emergency response plan" or "CERP" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-216. (3) "Citizenship grade" means a grade or evaluation that reflects a student's demonstration of college and career readiness as defined in Section 53E-4-208. (4) "Cardiac emergency response plan" or "CERP" means a plan developed by a school that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds as defined in Section 53G-9-216. (5) "Emergency cardiovascular care" means the same as defined in Section 53G-9-216. (6) "Evidence-based core elements" means the same as defined in Section 53G-9-216. (7) "High needs school" means the same as defined in Section 53G-9-216. (i) designated as a Title I school under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.; or (8) "Rural School" means a public school within a school district: (a) located in a county of the fourth, fifth, or sixth class, as defined in Section 17-50-501; or (b) with fewer than 3,000 students enrolled in the school district. R277-634-3. General Grant and Scholarship Administration. (1) The Board shall administer grant and scholarship programs in accordance with state law and this rule. (2) The Superintendent shall: (a) establish application procedures and timelines; (b) require applicants to submit information and documentation necessary to determine eligibility; (c) establish reporting requirements for recipients; (d) monitor compliance with program requirements; and (e) take corrective action in accordance with Rule R277-114 if an applicant or recipient fails to comply with program requirements. (3) The Board may establish additional requirements necessary to administer a grant or scholarship program consistent with state law. (4) The Board shall establish minimum eligibility thresholds for applicants, including minimum standards for citizenship grades and attendance. (5) Scholarship award amounts shall be determined based on available funds and applicant eligibility, as established by the Board. R277-633-4. Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Grant Program. (1) The Board shall administer the grant program to assist LEAs in implementing cardiac emergency response plans (CERP) in accordance with Section 53G-9-216 subject to legislative appropriations. (2) An LEA may apply for a grant by submitting an application in a manner prescribed by the Superintendent. (3) The Superintendent shall: (a) prepare and make available a grant application; (b) review applications starting on July 1, 2026; (c) prioritize the grant distribution first to high needs schools and second to rural schools; and 
