Senate approves changes to Excellence in Education grant amid participation concerns

The Utah Senate on Jan. 28 passed first substitute Senate Bill 99, a measure that adjusts funding for the Excellence in Education and Leadership grant program and directs the state board to create a data dashboard to identify teacher impact, sponsor Senator Lincoln Fillmore said.

The bill "right sizes the appropriation, returning money to the education stabilization fund from which it was funded last year, and then establishes a method by which the state board will create a data dashboard," Fillmore said during floor debate. The bill passed on a roll call, 20 ayes, 8 nays and 1 absent.

Supporters described the program as an incentive for high-performing teachers who work in difficult assignments; opponents said few districts opt into the program and the state should weigh other uses for the funds. "Only a third of the schools are participating in this program and many of them are dropping out because it's kind of time consuming and it doesn't really yield the results that they were anticipating," said Senator Riebe, who opposed the bill. "The squeeze isn't worth the juice."

Senator Evan J. Vickers said his conversations with the sponsor clarified funding sources and that the bill would not put additional money at risk for K-12 education; Vickers said he would vote in favor. The bill's fiscal note, cited on the floor, is $1,200,000.

Senate debate also touched on the broader question of merit pay and whether limited statewide funds should be allocated to an opt-in grant rather than to direct teacher pay. "Every $100,000 we spend is a teacher that could be in the classroom," Riebe said, urging caution about reallocating money from direct compensation.

The measure will be transmitted to the Utah House of Representatives for consideration.