R277.  Education, Administration.
R277-720.  Reimbursement Program for Early Graduation from Competency-Based Education.
R277-720-1.  Authority and Purpose.
	(1)  This rule is authorized by:
	(a)  Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board;
	(b)  Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law;
	(c)  Subsection 53F-2-511(1)(c)(ii), which allows the Board to make rules to specify additional criteria for an LEA to be eligible for a competency-based education early graduation reimbursement; and
	(d)  Subsection 53F-2-511(6), which allows the Board to make rules for the administration of the Reimbursement Program for Early Graduation from Competency-Based Education.

R277-720-2.  Definitions.
	(1)  "Advisory Committee" means the Competency-based Advisory Committee created in Section R277-712-3.
	(2)  "Eligible LEA" means an LEA that:
	(a)  has demonstrated to the Board that the LEA or, for a school district, a school within the LEA, provides and facilitates competency-based education that is based on the core principles described in Section 53F-5-502; and
	(b)  has an approved competency-based education program that includes:
	(i)  at least one outcome measure for each indicator level required by the Superintendent;
	(ii)  outcome measures that are disaggregated by student subgroups where possible; and
	(iii)  at least one outcome measure for student growth and proficiency.
	(3)  "Eligible student" means a student who:
	(a)  meets the requirements described in Subsection 53F-2-511(1)(d);
	(b)  has been flagged by an LEA as a competency-based education participant.
	(4)  "Program" means the Reimbursement Program for Early Graduation from Competency-Based Education described in Section 53F-2-511.

R277-720-3.  Competency Based Education Designation.
	(1)  To receive a competency-based education designation, an eligible LEA shall:
	(a)  submit an application in the form prescribed by the Superintendent to the advisory committee;
	(b)  submit the application in Subsection (1)(a) no later than April 1st of the school year prior to the school year in which the LEA intends to seek reimbursement; and
	(c)  have an approved competency-based education plan pursuant to R277-712.
	(2)  The advisory committee shall review all applications and make recommendations to the Board based on the Board approved competency-based education core principals and measures described in R277-712.
	(3)  The Board shall approve or deny the recommendations made by the advisory committee.
	(4)  If approved, an eligible LEA's competency-based education designation shall last for the following three years, provided the school continues to operate on a competency-based model.
	(5)  An eligible LEA may not retroactively use an approved competency-based education designation for reimbursement of eligible students.
	(6)  If an eligible LEA does not have a current competency-based education designation, the eligible LEA may not use the approved competency-based education designation for reimbursement of eligible students in the school year in which the eligible LEA's application is approved.

R277-720-4.  Early Graduation Reimbursement.
	(1)  An eligible LEA with a competency-based education designation may seek reimbursement for an eligible student beginning October 2021 for membership generated in the 2020-2021 school year.
	(2)  The reimbursement amount shall be calculated by the Superintendent in the following manner:
	(a)  the amount of weighted pupil unit lost due to early graduation for each eligible student shall be determined as described by Subsection 53F-2-511(5);
	(b)  the total amount of lost weighted pupil unit for each eligible student shall be used to establish an LEA aggregate total and a statewide aggregate total for all eligible students;
	(c)  if the statewide aggregate total is equal to or less than the total amount allocated for the program by the legislature, an eligible LEA shall be reimbursed the LEA aggregate total;
	(d)  if the statewide aggregate total exceeds the total amount allocated for the program by the legislature, an eligible LEA shall be reimbursed a prorated amount proportionate to the percentage that the LEA aggregate total is of the statewide aggregate total.
	(3)  An LEA shall not receive a reimbursement for an eligible student that exceeds the amount outlined in Subsection 53F-2-511(5)(a).

KEY:  competency-based education, reimbursements, early graduation
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment:  May 23, 2019
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401(4); 53F-2-511(1)(c)(ii); 53F-2-511(6)