12. Effective Date InformationThis 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.
R277-925. Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.
R277-925-1. Authority[,] and Purpose[, and Oversight Category]. (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; and
(c) Subsection 53F-2-513(2)(b), which requires the Board to make rules for the administration of the Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.
(2) The purpose of this rule is to provide standards and procedures for the administration of the Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.
[(3) This Rule R277-925 is categorized as Category 2 as described in Rule R277-111.] R277-925-2. Definitions.
(1) "Benchmark assessment" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53F-2-513.
(2) "Eligible teacher" means:
(a) the same as that term is defined in Section 53F-2-513; and
(b) a teacher who is a regular or special education classroom teacher.
(3) "High poverty school" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53F-2-513.
(4) "Local education agency" or "LEA" includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
(5) "Median growth percentile" or "MGP" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53F-2-513.
(6) "Program" means the Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.
(7) "Standards assessment" means the assessment described in Section 53E-4-303.
(8) "State-assessed course" means a course in English language arts, mathematics, or science.
R277-925-3. Administration of the Program.
(1) On or before December 1, the Superintendent shall:
(a) identify high poverty schools and eligible teachers in accordance with Subsection (2);
(b) distribute a list of eligible teachers to LEAs; and
(c) inform LEAs of:
(i) program requirements and the timeline for applying on behalf of an eligible teacher; and
(ii) the date on which the Superintendent will provide notice to each teacher who the Superintendent estimates achieved the eligibility criteria to qualify for a bonus, as required in Subsection 53F-2-513(5)(d).
(2) The Superintendent shall identify:
(a) high poverty schools based on the proportion of students who:
(i) qualify for free or reduced lunch in the current school year, based on:
(A) the most recent end of school year enrollment headcounts for existing schools; or
(B) the October 1 enrollment headcounts for new schools; and
(ii) are classified as children affected by intergenerational poverty, as determined by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, for the most recent year data is available; and
(b) eligible teachers by determining:
(i) whether the teacher's MGP was greater than or equal to 70:
(A) for at least one state-assessed course taught by the teacher;
(B) as measured by student performance on a standards assessment restricted to those students who were taught by the teacher for a full academic year;
(C) two years before the current school year; and
(D) excluding courses or teachers who failed to meet accountability eligibility as described in Rule R277-497; or
(ii) for a teacher in kindergarten or grade 1, 2, or 3, whether at least 85% of the teacher's students assess as typical or better on an end of year benchmark assessment.
(3) An eligible teacher who is part-time in a regular or special education classroom assignment in the current year shall receive a partial salary bonus based on the number of hours worked in the classroom assignment.
(4) To receive matching funds for the program, on or before January 15, an LEA shall:
(a) apply on behalf of an eligible teacher; and
(b) provide assurances that the LEA will pay half of the:
(i) teacher salary bonus; and
(ii) employer-paid benefits described in Section 53F-2-513.
(5)(a) Subject to legislative appropriations, on or before June 1, the Superintendent shall:
(i) ensure that a teacher who was determined eligible under Subsections (1) and (2) taught at a high poverty school for the full school year; and
