[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6089057,"mediaKeyId","2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40","parentId",2877040,"title","School Children’s Trust quarterly update: advocacy office, corrective action and land‑purchase concern","audioSeconds",810,"startMs",6107000,"endMs",6917000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40&start=6107&end=6917","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40/thumbnail_6107000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089057/Utah/School-Childrens-Trust-quarterly-update-advocacy-office-corrective-action-and-landpurchase-concern","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089057-8d69a39dcc13fcd11d83fb9a2dfaf354/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176007&Signature=ECANiSGHqJCRXaNSCaEesubCv-lssFupF3ZYKChqOY9xjJ9kX3CnQ37~IYLyHpliLUCZgdNYb3yVFxxzKKF0ggz5cV3FO9A14IluOtEzS3zrIegySMyX95Hql0wScSYbzmjGHTHeq0SQ1rSbUQDo7R5hXPCkZvKv9g7d~auOfSh9BGyoo1Pv8AK3L1Vf6qZtnwzqALRBNLwmxMres6eAjqjkEWR3zUfC7n0u~RYAnE-zKZZXfGVLnvdEe-GH5iKRP~pkHOPhdRrsgad-g4gthX4q36EegY-KQPPakHqPTdI293Mky9jtjy1X4EoFrV1Cptwa71WqBap~2EB7hjOwjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Financial Operations","date","2025-04-04T17:55:20.563Z","article","Paul Blunt, director of the School Children’s Trust, updated the finance committee on April 3 with a quarterly report covering program spending trends, policy work and legislative aftereffects.

Spending trends: Blunt showed multi-year expenditure shifts — trust spending has moved from small, material purchases toward personnel and student supports in recent years, consistent with schools using the trust to staff interventions and in‑school supports. The report also highlighted work to reduce multi-year carryovers. Staff have implemented a two-year corrective-action process: schools first submit plans and amendments; after a second-year review, funds still not spent are subject to reallocation to compliant schools.

Advocacy office and legislative follow-up: The director discussed a recent legislative audit that prompted a working group to examine the advocacy office’s role and operations. The working group, chaired by legislators and including trust advisors, is expected to report recommendations during the October interim and likely inform 2026 legislation. Blunt said the working group includes trust-advisory members representing beneficiaries.

Staff flagged a budget item enacted late in the session that moves $50 million from education stabilization income tax dollars into a fund administered by the Department of Natural Resources for possible land purchases. Blunt said staff view that appropriation as a concern because it channels education stabilization money into land acquisition and may bypass typical trust governance intended to protect beneficiary interests.

Votes and next steps: This item was informational; no committee votes were taken. Blunt said staff will continue corrective-action work with districts and charters and will report the working group’s recommendations and next steps to the committee as they are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","20250404 Finance Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The School Children’s Trust director briefed the committee on a working group to study the trust advocacy office, corrective-action work to reduce unspent local carryover, and a budget-related legislative item that would send education stabilization funds toward land purchase authority — an item staff flagged as a concern.","taxTitle","Financial Operations , Utah Board of Education, Offices, Departments, and Divisions, Organizations, Utah Executive Branch, Utah","taxId",67095,"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},6089062,"Finance committee recommends board adopt FY2026 state education budget",932,5027000,5959000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40&start=5027&end=5959","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40/thumbnail_5027000.jpg","/articles/6089062/Utah/Finance-committee-recommends-board-adopt-FY2026-state-education-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089062-f60201acdeedeea8a3ccee5e937768e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176007&Signature=QczzFCcU~EyRYZezdikvOqqULBYK5AVV44icyo-IdchnReL4I8bI1xJGPDd9QeRvQBqTBerD7mMqEePN5FHqE4OgNKhkcRZxL3mclYEV~gQedQNymtTotpLGQAJMrpxob44C9sE-7a4mmAC~o3oxF-hHV34Nvbq8CUbXx~fKhTEq3OadtV5xB~9cmYxicqXgLxIBs0To79nHroWR0e9JvzTN-asxrHkJxCBDCgrVrTawQxnDiMj9POuhBleVFRFmKwqXna-BrT-uEaHBb2oHcl2~beooQtHL4glAikzWC8uLPXxcvb7a5hEH9ldQjsL1ErxtpqWiPNlpbk5skXuvpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance committee on April 3 recommended that the Utah State Board of Education adopt the state fiscal year 2026 budget as presented by staff. Committee members approved the recommendation unanimously.

Assistant Superintendent Deborah Jacobson and staff walked committee members through the budget package and the items added by the Legislature during the 2025 session. Staff said the presentation excluded local property tax revenues and USDB’s separate budget; it focused on state and federal appropriations administered by the agency. The budget summary lists about $237 million in new funding for a mix of ongoing and one-time programs, and staff noted 14 newly added line items in the agency appropriation, including telehealth public-health funding, educator supports, and a telehealth pilot.

Notable adjustments: The WPU (weighted pupil unit) increased by 4 percent to a new value of $4,006.74. The Necessarily Existing Small Schools program received ongoing increases; several small changes redistributed previously appropriated funds (for example, portions of professional-staff funding were incorporated into the flexible allocation). Staff also highlighted technical corrections the Legislature made that shift line items into the correct appropriations and the net effect of one-time reallocations.

Votes and next steps: The committee’s motion recommended that the board adopt the FY2026 state education budget; committee members moved and voted in the affirmative. The recommendation moves to the full board for final agency adoption and administrative implementation.

Background and context: Staff emphasized that the packet contains estimates for fiscal year 2026 (and for fiscal year 2025 collections not yet finalized), and that final collections and county tax reporting will affect local levy numbers, which the presentation treated as separate from the state appropriation.

Staff contacts: Assistant Superintendent Jacobson and Director Sam Urie participated in the presentation; Director of Financial Operations John Palmer and MSP administrators answered technical questions about estimates and levy projections.","The committee unanimously recommended that the full State Board of Education adopt the agency’s fiscal year 2026 budget, which incorporates $237 million in new programs and multiple statutory changes enacted in the 2025 legislative session.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089067,"Committee pauses decision on at-risk and English learner reporting rule after debate over 'or' versus 'and'",986,4931000,5917000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40&start=4931&end=5917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40/thumbnail_4931000.jpg","/articles/6089067/Utah/Committee-pauses-decision-on-at-risk-and-English-learner-reporting-rule-after-debate-over-or-versus-and","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089067-3d82c8f93fd8ca5ad312ddf3eed860ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176007&Signature=Aeus-5LNJjXFIyv0RVVvcvgy0Lg1AS3bgEKqO6DZs~MSzE13H1y4fujvPPQ2o2NRR5SCObBpqhWUd~stSnkmgqafiWE9ZfIUiUYehXs-JwBsgiUkLjewNskJZMNsW~ztFVm4UAFuKTYe1Wqdjtjp3D05fjb7mnWHeLjhHO1ZN9q9PbE42O7H4YoVOeBUxdz5f3PQm2VkP2IPaytSE4lJZle8MAjM9ceWHF1Jwgc3i-WgH4ctwsnJ0-Ud6O~s~ydt1qjs8dR2GwgjPF4~hjIlWEqaONX5X7Ygl1a~iL9iWZOUx~ZFBlFJoF~-q-Vo8xvHwdUIt6FZGI0hjJdOgwyBgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A planned vote on R277-632, the proposed rule covering funding for students at risk and students learning English, was postponed after committee members and public commenters questioned whether the draft’s reporting requirements matched statutory text.

Rose Van Tassel, executive director of the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, told the committee the statute’s language provides an “or” between two reporting options (either LEA outcome data or a report of intervention effectiveness), but the draft rule as written used “and,” which would require LEAs to provide both. Staff and program coordinators explained that outcome data alone may not show the effectiveness of interventions and that a narrative report on intervention effectiveness would typically rely on the outcome data; staff therefore proposed including both elements in the board rule to enable the agency to report program effectiveness to the Legislature.

Tanya Albernoz, the prevention coordinator, told the committee that an intervention-effectiveness report would be difficult to produce without the underlying outcome data and that the staff interpretation was to use both elements together. Committee members indicated they were not ready to adopt expanded reporting requirements and raised concerns about imposing additional reporting burdens on LEAs. The maker of a motion asked to postpone consideration to allow broader committee discussion and input.

Votes and next steps: Committee member Christina (last name recorded as Member Boggess in the transcript) moved to postpone action; the motion to defer the item to the May finance committee meeting passed. Staff noted an October 1 report deadline for related reporting, giving the committee some time to finalize the rule language before required reports are due.

Background: The discussion reflects a practical tension between statutory permissiveness (the Legislature used “or”) and staff desire for consistent outcome and narrative reporting to assess program impact and meet legislative information needs.","Committee members and public commenters debated whether the draft rule R277-632 should require LEAs to submit either outcome data or an intervention-effectiveness report, or both; staff recommended collecting both types, but the committee postponed final action to the May finance meeting.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089072,"Committee repeals contractor rule and forwards SOEP rule; public raises notice and parity concerns",387,3753000,4140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40&start=3753&end=4140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40/thumbnail_3753000.jpg","/articles/6089072/Utah/Committee-repeals-contractor-rule-and-forwards-SOEP-rule-public-raises-notice-and-parity-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089072-320d68486102d135443abc1d01571f01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176007&Signature=b-JOqDO33phrTiXLa0Mp9bTnawCueLdcDR4dUblt4TzbBm4tz5ZoPkCBaVmAz9DA42-4cI0yn7HrLG24pCKjD9m0xmdpXSFkXj~mxlK1VOAljhTMxeegIUmQCjM-jKAcM6fglykx9wSMo1g8CSXGxIvm7Uu-Zcd0nXgRCGHBk64aJ0KyFMFAWn5rafzfZEErbDZINz~V9QjPToPJihEwAmZEJtfFOtvhgemJzj3a~iN~jOwEEMffclryapI8WVhZnk2-fKDISBX2seHbBNClA3Rc2l1zODHGXg~M9ifMqQWIYcte5YfrbZH44dieZ7ojmbEOYZilG8AUh4xSgKg-cQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance committee on April 3 voted to repeal R277-725, the rule governing statewide online education program (SOEP) contractor requirements, and to approve R277-726 on first reading, forwarding it to the full board for second and final reading.

Director of Law and Professional Practices Ben Rasmussen told the committee that recent legislation (Senate Bill 137) altered how the board should manage SOEP contractors and that the staff recommendation was to repeal the contractor rule because the statute now directs contractor management outside the rule.

Separately, staff presented proposed amendments to R277-726, the rule that implements program requirements for the statewide online education program. Quinn Kellis, the SOEP lead administrator, and other staff described additions including a requirement that providers give parents notice when course material could include age-appropriate “mature” content, and added reporting and data-system parity measures to align SEATs (the student enrollment system) and other systems.

Public comment and concerns: Rose Van Tassel, executive director of the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, thanked staff for engagement on the draft but flagged a provision that requires SOEP providers to post age-appropriate notices for certain course content; Van Tassel questioned why the notice would apply only to SOEP providers and not to all LEAs offering the same courses. SOEP staff said the provision was added because SOEP commonly offers concurrent enrollment and college-level content that parents may want to review.

Staff also discussed a large revision to the rule’s formula for targeting funds to small high schools, put in place to prioritize limited appropriations toward schools with the greatest difficulty offering courses as spelled out in SB137.

Votes and next steps: The committee moved to repeal R277-725 on first reading and recommended repeal on second and final reading; the motion passed unanimously. The committee then approved R277-726 on first reading and forwarded it to the full board for second and final reading; that motion also passed unanimously. Staff said they will continue work on vendor integrations and final rule language ahead of board-level review.

Background: The changes reflect 2025 session legislation, including SB137, that reshaped oversight of online program contractors and specified priorities for funding small schools and concurrent enrollment protections.","The committee voted to repeal R277-725 (statewide online education program contractor requirements) and approved the updated R277-726 SRULE for the statewide online educational program on first reading; public commenters urged clarifications on age-appropriate notices and fee parity for UFA scholarship participants.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089077,"Finance committee amends school fees rule, forwards R277-407 to full board",3324,447000,3771000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40&start=447&end=3771","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2877040-3905851dcf0fe390bd97470628368c40/thumbnail_447000.jpg","/articles/6089077/Utah/Finance-committee-amends-school-fees-rule-forwards-R277-407-to-full-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089077-7447c43f1d5ef80363f3fb02d313b551/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176007&Signature=QxCRuIOV~DP6tkMJd5udKU37MwlJk50r-XgOuq76VZ0VhK~f7k5DVwz~9L7NaE9fzHZFWVgiXVuCBWDrc5RUbi8NlYhtyWtrLL769TCs5ekoAdexU7rXM5aT7DDz9AymqHDGtEQ5XsJL4lTuDf704M9BsAylslimf~RhgNGYXCyy1krbS3EATAZR9WYcTeRzK1K~TyZ7lIPBGRdQVrVaIl5BV0A-RayVoD-4K6IJ4S1tq6DT9GXEqaCl7w4VAfiU06s~7s71fpyEHZIeewunmERdHXS39b-cQXGxgzSpTjycGI6dkBN5IRM~rlPt9P-ACSZG0iJrJnuR28PRG3aLOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Utah State Board of Education finance committee on April 3 amended and approved R277-407, the proposed rule on school fees, then forwarded the rule to the full board for second and final reading.

The committee adopted a committee amendment to change the rule’s phrasing so that the Local Education Agency, not each school in isolation, must “ensure that each school within the LEA that awards credit toward graduation provides at least one option for each graduation requirement” that does not require payment of a fee. Deputy Superintendent of Policy Alyce Newey led the staff presentation on the rule and explained that the amendment is intended to clarify how the statutory language will apply to small schools and charter operators.

Why it matters: The rule implements changes to school fee definitions and procedures that the Legislature adopted during the 2025 session, including definitions for common education expense, discretionary projects, personal student supplies and provisions tied to the Utah Fits All (UFA) scholarship program. The rule also sets a schedule for LEAs to publish fee schedules to the board’s system; committee members discussed whether the long-term due date should be June 1 beginning with the 2026–27 school year and agreed to take that policy choice to the full board.

Discussion and public comment: Rose Van Tassel, executive director of the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, testified during the item and raised questions about how the rule would treat early college high schools that deliver credits only via AP, IB or concurrent enrollment. Van Tassel said he had discussed the issue with the bill sponsor and that the bill contained parallel language; staff and committee members noted they would confirm alignment with statutory language during the full-board review. Board members pressed staff on timing for LEA submissions this year; staff said the committee had previously approved moving the deadline for the current year to July 1 to give LEAs time to implement legislative changes.

Votes and next steps: A motion to amend the draft at line 379 to change the reference to an LEA ensuring each school that awards credit provides at least one no-fee option passed in committee. The committee then moved the amended R277-407 school fees draft 1 on first reading and forwarded it to the full board for approval on second and final reading. Committee members recorded affirmative votes during the meeting; the committee will consider final adoption at the board’s next meeting.

Background: The draft rule incorporates two 2025 laws: the school fees bill and UFA scholarship changes that require fee schedules for participating providers. New definitions and staged implementation dates – including a 2026–27 effective date for graduation-pathway provisions that require an option with no fee – are included in the draft.

Staff and speakers: Deputy Superintendent Alyce Newey and staff presented the draft; John Palmer (financial manager, Financial Operations) and other staff answered technical questions. Members of the finance committee debated timing for publishing fee schedules and the scope of the graduation-option language.

The committee’s recommended amendment, the staff presentation materials, and public comments will be part of the packet the full board receives for second reading.","The committee approved an amendment clarifying that local education agencies must ensure each school that awards credit toward graduation offers at least one no-fee option for each graduation requirement, and forwarded the revised R277-407 school fees rule to the full State Board of Education for second reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School Children’s Trust quarterly update: advocacy office, corrective action and land‑purchase concern

Finance committee recommends board adopt FY2026 state education budget

Committee pauses decision on at-risk and English learner reporting rule after debate over 'or' versus 'and'

Committee repeals contractor rule and forwards SOEP rule; public raises notice and parity concerns

Finance committee amends school fees rule, forwards R277-407 to full board