DAR File No. 39843

Education, Administration

Rule R277-921

Strengthening College and Career Readiness Program

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 39843
Filed: 10/15/2015 03:16:31 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This new Rule R277-921 is created in response to H.B. 198 Strengthening College and Career Readiness, from the 2015 General Session, which creates the Strengthening College and Career Readiness Pilot Program.

Summary of the rule or change:

The new rule provides procedures and criteria for applying for and awarding college and career readiness grants for school counselors to complete a course or courses and be awarded a certificate that certifies the school counselor is highly skilled at providing college and career counseling to students.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Art. X, Sec. 3
• Section 53A-15-1601
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is likely no cost or savings to the state budget. Existing staff will administer this program within existing budgets.

local governments:

There is likely no cost or savings to local government. A local education agency (LEA) may apply for college and career readiness grants for its school counselors. The 2015 legislature appropriated funding for the program.

small businesses:

There is likely no cost or savings to small businesses. This rule applies to a public education program grant for school counselors and does not affect small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is likely no cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. The 2015 legislature appropriated funds for college and career readiness grants for school counselors to take courses consistent with this rule and program.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are likely no compliance costs for affected persons. School counselors will receive funding to complete courses consistent with this rule and the college and career readiness program.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

To the best of my knowledge, there should be no fiscal impact on businesses resulting from the amendments to this rule.

Brad C. Smith, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at angie.stallings@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

12/01/2015

This rule may become effective on:

12/08/2015

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Associate Superintendent, Policy and Communication

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-921. Strengthening College and Career Readiness Program.

R277-921-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) This rule is authorized by:

(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests the general control and supervision of the public education system in the Board;

(b) Subsection 53A-1-401(3), which authorizes the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities; and

(c) Section 53A-15-1601, which requires the Board to make rules regarding the program.

(2) The purpose of this rule is to establish:

(a) procedures and criteria for applying for and awarding a grant; and

(b) reporting requirements for a grantee.

 

R277-921-2. Definitions.

(1) "Certificate" means the certificate described in Subsection 53A-15-1601(3)(a) that a school counselor may receive through participation in the program.

(2) "Grant" means payment of a course fee for a course required to earn the certificate.

(3) "Program" means the Strengthening College and Career Readiness Program created in Section 53A-15-1601.

(4) "School counselor" means a person who:

(a) holds a Utah School Counselor License;

(b) has a master's degree or higher from an accredited institution;

(c) is an employee of an LEA who provides counseling and information to a student about an educational or career choice;

(d) has received an evaluation as effective or higher through the LEA's evaluation system; and

(e) is recommended to participate in the program by a supervisor.

 

R277-921-3. Grant Application.

(1) An LEA may apply for a grant on behalf of a school counselor by submitting an application:

(a) provided on USOE's website;

(b) to the Superintendent; and

(c) except as provided in Subsection (2), on or before June 30.

(2) If the annual appropriation for the program exceeds the grant requests, the Superintendent may extend the deadline specified in Subsection (1)(c) by posting a new deadline on USOE's website.

 

R277-921-4. Procedure and Criteria for Awarding Grant.

(1) If the grant applications exceed the annual appropriation for the program, the Superintendent shall give preference in awarding a grant to an applicant if:

(a) the school where the school counselor works has a state approved Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program;

(b) the school where the school counselor works meets the school counselor-to-student ratio of 1:350, according to Rule R277-462; and

(c) the school counselor is licensed as a school counselor according to Rule R277-506.

(2) A school counselor who fails to complete a course that is paid for by a grant shall repay the course fee to the Superintendent.

 

R277-921-5. Reporting Requirements for Grantee.

After completing the course work necessary to receive the certificate, the school counselor shall submit to the Superintendent:

(1) an action plan to implement the skills developed through earning the certificate to improve students' college and career readiness; and

(2) an application that is provided on USOE's website to add the certificate to the school counselor's license.

 

KEY: counseling, grant program, college and career readiness

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2015

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X, Sec 3; 53A-1-401(3); 53A-15-1601