[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6345660,"mediaKeyId","2248714-ff443f580bea6162e359d10a4c204ffb","parentId",2248714,"title","Utah State Board narrows budget ask but seeks WPU boost, reporting system and school-safety funds","audioSeconds",884,"startMs",76000,"endMs",960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248714-ff443f580bea6162e359d10a4c204ffb&start=76&end=960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248714-ff443f580bea6162e359d10a4c204ffb/thumbnail_76000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345660/Utah/Utah-State-Board-narrows-budget-ask-but-seeks-WPU-boost-reporting-system-and-school-safety-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345660-c5d455831a7e1984ce7ceb0e938b4f4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770627453&Signature=j9dehu2mRtCcgjIdg8M9i1iim7X-3qIJxpzzG-Af1QjGjvsW2BtOpp8e-4qtkEw4h7cMdDU3N5m-G0lJWdokaH7COoT-oIDeRZ2soxy8F9f8DcfztJnkPZtntfs67x6XSHduPU5fj7nfA7m6PF6N6oHmggwPPTqzp1f2vUmlgRTJ9yghlNX6Wj7DFdABQFNs4W-WmECxjUjqtC8bX-7uAWA4xp8aWynafG8OD3oMSrO06gMI2ATmp3Xq0Nj8SnpEv2OE~7DZGyeLW6uwZfShfxOf8NyxfT7HAkwEuKhZ84e9dfaSToF9A85-esFElSSaYYI4EHzN-EzHugZ3G8zVMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Utah State Board of Education told the Legislature’s public education appropriations subcommittee that it has pared a longer wish list but still seeks targeted money for teacher pay, data and school safety.

Board Chair Matt Hymas told the committee the board is asking for a 1% increase to the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) on top of the 4% inflationary adjustment already expected this year — a combined increase the board says will help local education agencies meet maintenance-of-effort and salary obligations for teachers. He also outlined agency requests for ongoing staff capacity, a reduced-cost statewide reporting system and targeted school-safety funding, and asked the committee to consider a $4 million one-time payment to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB).

Why it matters: WPU adjustments and new data systems affect how money reaches districts and classrooms statewide. The board said constrained revenue forced it to re‑rank priorities but left intact items it considers essential for schools’ operations and safety.

Hymas told the committee the board met “yesterday” to trim an original list of a dozen-plus priorities and to align the request with current revenue projections. “We know that 4% is coming. We’re asking for an additional 1%,” he said, adding that the board recognizes the state’s fiscal limits. Hymas described the board’s posture plainly: “We’re begging,” he said, then immediately framed that as a candid acknowledgment of scarcity and need.

Key items the board presented:

- WPU increase: The board asks the subcommittee to consider a 1% add-on to the WPU beyond the 4% inflation adjustment lawmakers expect this cycle (board leaders said the extra 1% is targeted to help LEAs cover teacher pay and meet maintenance‑of‑effort requirements). Legislative fiscal staff warned the committee there is a statutory step: equity positions must be funded before any discretionary WPU increase; staff estimated that equity requirement would cost roughly $21.3 million.

- Agency FTEs: The board reaffirmed a request for roughly $1.27 million in ongoing funding to add critical full‑time positions in the state agency; Hymas said the board removed a one‑time FTE ask because one‑time money does not match an ongoing staffing need.

- Statewide reporting system: The board reduced an earlier one‑time ask for statewide reporting from $35 million to $20 million, saying accurate data “drives informed decisions” and that a lower request reflects an effort to be efficient while preserving needed capability.

- School safety: The board outlined a substantial long‑term need for school‑safety infrastructure it estimated at about $500 million. Recognizing the scale, it asked the committee for an initial $50 million one‑time commitment and urged discussion about statewide solutions and potential funding sources beyond the education budget.

- Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind: The board requested $4 million one‑time for the USDB as a bridge to accommodate an expected influx of students while the agency and board continue long‑term planning.

Vice Chair Leanne Wood said the board voted to retain funding for four specific items the Legislative Fiscal Analyst had recommended for preservation: CTE student organizations (DECA, FBLA, FFA), college-and-career awareness for elementary grades, CTE work‑based learning, and grants for professional learning (which support early‑literacy coaches used by a majority of elementary LEAs). Wood noted the board had pulled back from some larger requests that the base budget now partially funds, pointing specifically to a previous ask for expanded professional hours that the base budget now covers at roughly $77 million.

Legislative fiscal staff cautioned the committee that some statutory requirements and base budget commitments affect how discretionary increases would be implemented — notably the equity funding trigger tied to any WPU increase.

Committee members thanked the board for quickly revising its request to reflect tighter revenue estimates and for prioritizing programs that directly affect classroom instruction.

Next steps: Board leaders asked the subcommittee to carry the updated summary into caucus discussions. The committee did not take a final vote on any of the board’s requests during the hearing; staff said the items will be considered along with other agency requests as the subcommittee develops a priority list for final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee - February 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Utah State Board of Education told the Legislature’s public education appropriations subcommittee that it has pared a longer wish list but still seeks targeted money for teacher pay, data and school safety.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345657,"Appropriations subcommittee hears a string of education funding pitches: emergency ELL aid, school meals, telehealth and youth programs",4860,1668000,6528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248714-ff443f580bea6162e359d10a4c204ffb&start=1668&end=6528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248714-ff443f580bea6162e359d10a4c204ffb/thumbnail_1668000.jpg","/articles/6345657/Utah/Appropriations-subcommittee-hears-a-string-of-education-funding-pitches-emergency-ELL-aid-school-meals-telehealth-and-youth-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345657-e3649670b37af704bc8a239bab57e124/orig.mp4?Expires=1770627453&Signature=cN~fGOSXYb8tQ1ggmwDp~w0Kl-qRoHmuELDOcqwZaHCgzUkXN17cWUdQ9C5yf4SMCDDRpugTrhyCs4TJMQCskqC7sv5H~18kawy2Ee9KeLB8pgoWd6H5RbyLwt4boalaxe4~IL~fqxGUnPAGLdszc8ebmic8dlI1Tzx1scKyjo7EtiIhYtqgCi10-t6CCd5PI-fkrFzNUnhRC0VOrZQp3PdFOm~ECICZVVKM5~hBTtwBG5GU0WQVsbpeAyeXXJPDkuYHD1o90I79aB2auP4YJzws5Eob0j0gUACbkCzeiDgEhHhfdJuMS2pNJy6H3PFMMxM2u30ZPpURQePBh~9WBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Legislature’s public education appropriations subcommittee heard a wide array of smaller funding requests Tuesday, from emergency aid for English‑learner surges to a $160 million proposal to cover school meals statewide.

Many sponsors framed the requests as targeted, preventive investments intended to keep students in class, support teachers and build long‑term pathways to careers.

Representative Candace Perucci asked the committee to fund HB42, a $5 million one‑time emergency grant program for schools that experience sudden increases in English‑learner enrollment. The grants would be distributed through the State Board of Education for schools that demonstrate a significant enrollment spike (the bill sets a threshold and floor to avoid small‑district percentage distortions). Perucci said the funds would pay for supports such as English‑language certification for teachers and short‑term wraparound help while longer‑term funding (the WPU add‑on) catches up.

Food security was the subject of two separate proposals. Representative Erik Clancy presented HB100, a targeted $2.8 million request to eliminate the reduced‑price student co‑pay (currently 40¢ per meal on average) and expand summer EBT in partnership with private philanthropy; sponsors said philanthropic partners have committed about $618,000 toward a summer EBT match. Senator Luz Escamilla urged broader action in SB173, a much larger plan that would provide universal school breakfast and lunch with an estimated state ask of roughly $160 million; she said studies show an estimated $9 return for every $1 invested in school feeding programs and argued state support is a long‑term investment in the workforce.

Other program requests and pilot proposals heard included:

- K–12 computer science: Stan Lockhart summarized a multi‑year, multi‑dollar program that has expanded via prior appropriations ($5M, then $8M, $8M, $10M). He warned that without continued funding the initiative could face a 60% cut and urged at least a small 1‑time allocation to sustain district momentum.

- Project 29 (2034 Olympics outreach): Lawmakers heard a $1‑time pilot proposal to place athletes and Paralympians in schools in a 10‑school pilot designed to connect youth and communities statewide ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics.

- Rural school athletic facilities grants: Representative Tiara Occere and constituent Nicole Brown asked for a $5 million one‑time fund capped at $500,000 per project to repair or replace unsafe athletic facilities in rural districts (sponsor noted bill text references districts under either 1,000 or 3,000 students; sponsor asked committee to follow the bill language in the final draft).

- Student Credential Account / YouScience: Senator Luz Owens and Utah YouScience director Kelly Openshaw highlighted rapid growth in the program’s aptitude assessments. Openshaw said more than 175,000 students have completed the assessment statewide and that districts use the results to guide CTE, internships and early career exposure.

- Weighted vests / sensory‑input pilot: Representative Walt Shelly and Aaron Peterson (special education director) described a $12,000 pilot to provide weighted vests and other proprioceptive tools to wellness rooms as voluntary, non‑coercive supports intended to reduce escalations and avoid seclusion rooms; Peterson said the protocol would align with Utah code (277609) and the State Board’s Least Restrictive Behavior Interventions guidance.

- Cell‑phone storage assistance: Senator Fillmore presented a $1.9 million one‑time request to help local districts buy storage/locker solutions if districts choose to restrict phones during the school day; he said the amount equates to roughly $5–$6 per secondary student.

- Stand for Kind (anti‑bullying): The long‑running nonprofit said reimbursement funding has allowed it to scale; chairman Jay Francis said the organization served more than 300 schools and roughly 300,000 students last year and that state seed funding has helped leverage private donations.

- Trust‑based Relational Intervention (TBRI) pilot: Amy Huggins, a classroom teacher and TBRI coach, urged funding for a pilot coaching program that trains teachers on relationship‑based interventions to reduce behavioral incidents and improve retention; Huggins offered classroom anecdotes of success and urged a pilot to collect data and scale the model.

- School‑based telehealth: Representative Doug Welton and Shelley Cooper of Intermountain Health described a telehealth pilot that provided equipment (otoscope, exam cam, digital stethoscope) to several districts; Cooper said a Wasatch County 2022 pilot saved about 5,500 days of missed school and that 96% of telehealth visits keep students at school. Sponsors asked for funding to expand equipment to additional districts and noted Intermountain and providers are partners in the model.

Several sponsors and LFA staff noted the tight revenue situation and that not every request will be funded. Committee members and staff encouraged presenters to provide detailed fiscal notes and implementation plans; the committee did not take final votes on any of the requests during the hearing.

Committee schedule note: Because the subcommittee had to adjourn for floor time, some Q&A was deferred to follow‑up discussions outside the hearing.","The Legislature’s public education appropriations subcommittee heard a wide array of smaller funding requests Tuesday, from emergency aid for English‑learner surges to a $160 million proposal to cover school meals statewide.","actionData","errors"]

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Utah State Board narrows budget ask but seeks WPU boost, reporting system and school-safety funds

Appropriations subcommittee hears a string of education funding pitches: emergency ELL aid, school meals, telehealth and youth programs