Public Education Revisions

Removed duplicative language regarding college and career readiness plans to streamline the statute.

Amended kindergarten enrollment rules to allow children who move to Utah after enrolling in kindergarten elsewhere to enroll even if age requirements differ between states.

Repealed the requirement for the State Board to create a process for handling kindergarten students who are not toilet-trained.

Reduced requirements for early learning plans that LEAs must submit to the State Board.

Repealed the requirement for the State Board to use a digital platform to communicate with LEAs regarding early learning.

Amended the Teacher Salary Supplement Program and Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators to allow LEAs with carry-forward or leftover balances to increase the amount provided to teachers.

Increased the portion of appropriated funding the State Board of Education can use for administrative costs for early literacy software, including independent software evaluator costs, from 4% to 6%.

Added the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as an LEA eligible to participate in the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program.

Amended school fee provisions to ensure schools are not prohibited from charging fees for fine arts courses.

Changed the effective date for certain provisions affecting Section 53F-2-504 from May 7, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

Allows children who transferred from other states with different kindergarten age requirements to enroll in Utah kindergarten without meeting Utah's specific age cutoff.

Adds Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as eligible local education agencies to participate in the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program.

Eliminates the state board requirement for creating a process to handle kindergarten students who are not toilet-trained.

Removes prohibition preventing schools from charging fees for fine arts courses.

Reduces requirements for early learning plans submitted by local education agencies and removes the mandate for using a digital platform for state-board communications.

Permits local education agencies with unused salary supplement funds to increase teacher compensation under certain conditions.

Increases the portion of appropriated funding the State Board of Education can use for administrative costs related to early literacy software, including independent software evaluation.

Removed Senate requirement mandating toilet training before kindergarten enrollment starting 2025-2026 school year

Added House provision creating exemptions for students unable to be toilet trained due to conditions subject to federal child find requirements or documented in IEP/Section 504 plans

Changed effective date references from 2024-2025/2025-2026 school year to unspecified timing in House version

Reorganized line numbering from lines 729-732a to lines 428-429a and restructured exemption language format

Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are now included as eligible Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to participate in the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program.

Kindergarten enrollment rules were changed to allow children who moved to Utah after enrolling in kindergarten in another state to enroll in Utah kindergarten, even if age requirements differ.

The requirement for the state board to create a process for handling untoilet-trained kindergarten students was repealed, though exemptions remain for students with disabilities.

Requirements for early learning plans submitted by LEAs were reduced, and the mandate for the state board to use a digital platform for communication with LEAs was removed.

Schools are no longer prohibited from charging fees for fine arts courses, removing a previous restriction on school fees.

Early learning plan requirements were reduced, allowing LEAs more flexibility in the plans they submit to the state board.

The portion of appropriated funding the State Board of Education can use for administrative costs for early literacy software was increased, including costs for independent software evaluators.

LEAs can now increase the amount of funds they provide to teachers under salary supplement programs if they have a carry forward or leftover balance after ensuring proper distribution.

The toilet training requirement for kindergarten enrollment was delayed to begin with the 2025-2026 school year instead of the 2024-2025 school year.

Several technical and conforming changes were made to align language and provisions throughout the bill.

Added Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as eligible Local Education Agencies for the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program.

Modified kindergarten enrollment rules to allow children who moved from other states with different age requirements to enroll in kindergarten.

Increased the portion of early literacy software funding that can be used for administrative costs, including independent software evaluation, from 4% to 6%.

Removed the requirement for the State Board to create a process for handling untrained kindergarten students and repealed the digital platform requirement for early learning communications.

Reduced requirements for early learning plans submitted by school districts and charter schools.

Changed early literacy software reporting requirements to use a digital platform for performance information.

Adjusted school fee restrictions to allow charging fees for fine arts courses that are part of core standards.

Removed the requirement for the State Board to create a process for handling untrained kindergarten students.

Modified the early learning plan requirements to reduce the number of goals required from two to one additional goal related to literacy or mathematics.

Clarified the definition of 'plan for college and career readiness' to focus on post-secondary options and career planning starting in grade 7.