SALT LAKE CITY — Career and Technical Education (CTE) staff told the finance committee on Sept. 22 that student participation in CTE is growing and that local education agencies have asked for changes to how indirect costs and add‑on funds are treated.

Wendy Morton, CTE coordinator, described rising CTE enrollment and said districts and charter LEAs have requested a rule change affecting the indirect cost rate applied to CTE add‑on funds so that more program dollars flow directly to classroom instruction rather than into the indirect cost pool. “If you wanted specific LEAs that are asking directly for this, I will have to go back and get those specific names,” Morton said when asked which districts favored the change.

Nut graf: CTE staff asked the finance committee to support the business case to increase CTE add‑on funding, to consider clarifying language in statute about how the program’s growth is funded, and to request staff FTE to administer the program. The committee voted to recommend the board consider those actions; the committee record shows the motion carried with three in favor and one opposing vote recorded in committee.

Additional context: Staff outlined concerns that the existing unrestricted indirect cost treatment may reduce the dollars reaching classroom use for equipment and supplies. CTE leaders also asked the board to back a business case already scheduled for full‑board consideration that includes ongoing funding increases and possible staff to support program administration.

Committee action: The finance committee voted to recommend the board consider supporting the CTE add‑on business case, clarifying statute language for growth allocation, and requesting FTE to administer the program. The committee recorded a 3–1 vote in favor in committee (board member Boggess recorded as opposed to the motion in committee record).

Sources: Remarks from Wendy Morton and CTE staff during the USBE Finance Committee meeting, Sept. 22, 2024.