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House approves $11 million pilot to extend math and science teacher contracts
Summary
House Bill 270 passed the Utah House to create Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative Centers that use grants to extend math and science teachers from 9 to 11 months. Sponsor cited an $11,000,000 fiscal note and said the program is intended as a pilot, not an immediate statewide rollout; the measure passed unanimously and heads to the Senate.
Representative Ron Bigelow presented House Bill 270 as one of the session's major funding proposals, explaining the bill's purpose is to establish USTAR-linked centers in a number of high schools. "The purpose of the bill is to establish in a number of high schools a program whereby a math or science teacher will move from a 9 month contract to an 11 month contract," Bigelow said, noting the measure carries an $11,000,000 fiscal note.
Bigelow told members the program is grant-based: school districts would apply for funds and participation is voluntary for districts and teachers. He said the program would help retain teachers in critical shortage areas and provide summer instructional opportunities for students, including remediation and advanced classes. In response to a question about how far $11 million would go, Bigelow said the original estimate was to cover three or four large high schools but that the language was revised to expand participation including in rural areas; he did not provide exact district counts.
Representative Bigelow said open-enrollment rules would allow students from other districts to attend programs if the host district offers them. After limited discussion the House voted to pass HB270 (73 yes, 0 no, 2 absent); the bill now moves to the Senate.
