Summary for May 5, 2011, Utah State Board of Education Meeting

By Mark Peterson, on May 6th, 2011

Briefly:

In this meeting, the Utah State Board of Education:

Helped clarify the maturation program for Utah teachers by beginning the process of placing it under Board rule.
Helped eight charter schools begin operations, renovate or expand through the use of $1.4 million in revolving loan funds.
Examined the development of Utah’s Public Education Online website that will put Utah K-12 students in touch with online educational options.

Public Education Online to go Online May 14

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Larry K. Shumway announced that Utah’s Public Education Online will go online May 14. Public Education Online is the result of Senate Bill 65 from the most recent session of the Utah Legislature. The website will offer parents and students information on taking online classes as part of the public school experience. Public Education Online will be available from the homepage of the Utah State Office of Education website.

For more information contact:

Sean Thomas, School Finance Auditor, 801-538-7674.

Larry Newton, School Finance Director, (801) 538-7668.

Board Gives Preliminary Approval to 10 Rules

The Utah State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to the following proposed new rules or changes to existing rules. Final approval will likely come during the Board’s June 3 meeting.

R277-405 Requirements for Assessments for Assessment Pilot Programs. The changes define the pilot program for high schools and now includes large districts and online delivery.
R277-473 Testing Procedures. The amendments are being made to keep the rule consistent with recent changes in legislation and in R277-404 Requirements for Assessments of Student Achievement.
R277-705 Secondary School Completion and Diploma. The amendment removes all references to testing from R277-705 because they are now specified in R277-404.
R277-491 School Community Councils. The rule is being amended to allow for spring elections for community councils.
R277-707 Enhancement for Accelerated Students Program. The most recent session of the Utah Legislature repealed statutory language on specific programs that serve accelerated students and created one new program entitled Enhancement for Accelerated Students. This new rule deals with those changes.
R277-436 Gang Prevention. The most recent session of the Utah Legislature repealed statutory language on specific programs that serve at-risk youth and complied them into one program entitled Enhancement for At-risk Students. This new rule deals with those changes.
R277-474 School Instruction and Human Sexuality. The amendment adds the fifth grade maturation program specifically to Board rule.
R277-478 Interventions for Student Success Block Grant. The most recent session of the Utah Legislature repealed statutory language on specific programs that serve at-risk youth and complied them into one program entitled Enhancement for At-risk Students. This new rule deals with those changes.
R277-616 At-risk Programs: Homeless/Disadvantaged. The most recent session of the Utah Legislature repealed statutory language on specific programs that serve at-risk youth and complied them into one program entitled Enhancement for At-risk Students. This new rule deals with those changes.
R277-491 School Community Councils. The rule amendment further clarifies who can serve on a community council and when elections may be held.

For more information contact:

John Jesse, Assessment and Accountability Director, 801-538-7811.

Marlies Burns, State Charter School Director, 801-538-7817.

Paula Plant, School Children’s Trust Trainer, 801-538-7555.

Karl Wilson, Title I Director, 801-538-7509.

Sydnee Dickson, Teaching and Learning Director, 801-538-7739.

Todd Hauber, Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, 801-538-7514.

Brenda Hales, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services, 801-538-7515.

Judy Park, Associate Superintendent for Student Services and Federal Programs, 801-538-7550.

Martell Menlove, Deputy Superintendent, 801-538-7762.

$1.4 Million in Revolving Loans Approved for Charter Schools

The Utah State Board of Education approved the follows loans from the Charter School Revolving Account:

Aristotle Academy, American Fork, $150,000 in startup funds.
Endeavor Hall, West Valley City, $221,000 in startup funds.
Entheos Academy-Magna, $175,000 in startup funds for a satellite campus.
Good Foundations Academy, Riverdale, $138,200 in startup funds.
Moab Charter School, Moab, $100,000 for purchase of portable classrooms and renovation.
Mountainville Academy, Alpine, $300,000 for expansion and renovation.
North Peak Academy, Perry, $182,000 for startup funds.
Pacific Heritage Academy, Glendale, $165,000 for startup funds.

For more information contact:

Marlies Burns, State Charter School Director, 801-538-7817.

Todd Hauber, Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, 801-538-7514.

Board Reivews Redevelopment Taxing Entities for 2010

The Utah State Board of Education reviewed the five new redevelopment agencies created in Utah in 2005 as well as changes to existing redevelopment projects.

You can review a summary of the agencies here.

For more information contact:

Larry Newton, School Finance Director, 801-538-7668.

Todd Hauber, Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, 801-538-7514.