Public Education Revisions

Updated statutory definitions to clarify terms like 'general control and supervision' and 'local education agency' to ensure consistency across the public education system.

Amended the State Superintendent's Annual Report requirements to include specific data on pupil-teacher ratios, attendance, and incidents of delinquent activity, with clearer instructions on how to calculate and report these metrics.

Changed the appointment authority for the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, allowing the State Board to authorize the State Superintendent to appoint and supervise this role.

Expanded juvenile justice reintegration plans and safety needs assessments to apply to all LEAs, including charter schools and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, rather than just school districts.

Modified suicide prevention grant provisions to allow the State Board to reduce grant amounts in certain circumstances where appropriations are insufficient.

Renamed the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program and updated eligibility criteria to align with the new definition of APEX centers.

Made technical corrections to section numbers and cross-references throughout the bill to reflect recent legislative changes.

Added a new definition for 'general control and supervision' to clarify that the State Board directs and manages all aspects of the public education system, including compliance monitoring.

Updated the definition of 'LEA governing board' to explicitly state that the State Board governs the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Renamed the 'Catalyst Center Grant Program' to the 'Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program' and updated related eligibility and usage provisions.

Amended security assessment and personnel requirements to allow the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind to coordinate with the state security chief instead of the county security chief.

Adjusted the State Superintendent's Annual Report requirements to ensure consistent reporting across all local education agencies.

Updated definitions to clarify 'general control and supervision' and expanded 'local education agency' to explicitly include charter schools and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Renamed the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Educational Experience Grant Program and updated related definitions and requirements.

Changed juvenile justice reintegration plans to apply to all local education agencies, not just school districts, and clarified the process for denying admission to students with serious offenses.

Updated school safety protocols to allow the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind to coordinate with the state security chief instead of a county security chief.

Modified the Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program to allow scholarships for paraprofessionals with equivalent experience outside the school system and added eligibility for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers.

Adjusted the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account to increase the minimum one-time appropriation for the renamed Catalyst/Applied Educational Experience Grant Program.

Corrected references in the State Superintendent's Annual Report requirements and made various technical and conforming changes throughout the code.

Updated definitions to include the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as a local education agency and clarified the meaning of 'general control and supervision'.

Renamed the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Educational Experience Grant Program and increased the minimum annual appropriation to $100,000,000.

Allowed the state board to reduce suicide prevention grant amounts in certain circumstances.

Authorized the State Board of Education to appoint and supervise the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Changed security coordination for USDB campuses from the county security chief to the state security chief.

Corrected references regarding the State Superintendent's Annual Report and made various technical conforming changes throughout the code.

Updated the definition of 'General control and supervision' to explicitly include compliance and monitoring of local education agencies.

Amended the State Superintendent's Annual Report requirements to include specific data on educator ratings, chronic absenteeism, and a detailed breakdown of pupil-teacher ratios.

Renamed the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Educational Experience Grant Program and updated eligibility criteria to focus on replicating professional environments and industry alignment.

Updated juvenile justice reintegration plans to apply to all local education agencies, not just school districts, and clarified the multidisciplinary team composition.

Revised school safety protocols to allow the State Security Chief to coordinate directly with the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, bypassing county security chiefs for these specific campuses.

Changed the appointment authority for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind superintendent so the State Superintendent appoints and supervises the role, with the State Board retaining final approval.

Increased the minimum one-time appropriation for the Applied Educational Experience Grant Program from $65 million to $100 million.

Adjusted the suicide prevention grant minimum allocation threshold from $1,000 per school to a commensurately lesser amount if appropriations are insufficient.

Expanded the 'Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program' to allow scholarships for paraprofessionals, teachers, and counseling students, with specific experience requirements.

Set the effective date for most provisions to May 6, 2026, with specific funding account changes taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Added new definitions for 'general control and supervision' and updated the definition of 'local education agency' to include charter schools and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Amended the authority structure for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, allowing the State Board to appoint the state superintendent as the school's superintendent and delegate duties.

Updated school safety assessment and personnel requirements to apply to all local education agencies, including charter schools, and specified that the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind coordinate with the state security chief instead of a county security chief.

Aligned juvenile justice reintegration plans to apply to all local education agencies rather than just school districts.

Modified the Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program to allow the use of funds for paraprofessionals.

Allowed the State Board to reduce suicide prevention grant amounts in certain circumstances and adjusted the minimum funding threshold for these grants.

Renamed the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Educational Experience Grant Program and updated related eligibility and use of funds provisions.

Set the effective date of the bill to May 6, 2026, and included a coordination clause to adjust language in another bill with a later effective date.