Target year-round school programs advance in committee
HB270 would establish an optional grant program to provide an extended year for math and science teachers through the creation of Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) Centers.
The program would set aside $11 million to provide grants to charter schools and school districts as an incentive to adopt programs that result in a more efficient use of teachers and buildings.
It would nudge districts in the direction of using school buildings in the summer while increasing pay for math and science teachers and providing extended opportunities for students.
Exactly what those centers would look like is vague in the bill by design, which would give the school districts the latitude to craft the centers to fit their individual needs, according to Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley.
Other potential benefits of the program include the ability to compete in getting quality teachers in the critical shortage areas of math and science, decreased class sizes, improved student college preparation and opportunities for earlier high school graduation.
HB67, sponsored my Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, R-Garland, would also give extra teaching days to special educators during the year and provides $200 a day stipends for up to 10 additional days for special education teachers. That bill is also aimed at recruiting more qualified teachers.
Moreover, the Senate also passed a resolution that would request the State Office of Education send out information to school districts, principals and teachers for the next three years reminding them of the alternative routes to licensure that are available in the state.
Resolution sponsor, Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, said over the past few years Legislators have put into place a number of alternative routes to licensure with the hope of netting more qualified educators.
But there are a lot of things in place that school administrators aren't always aware of, Dayton said.
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
Recent comments
What I am learning is that the impact of year-round schooling is...
Tre | Jan. 30, 2008 at 11:18 a.m.
I feel year round school would be great. I taught it for 3 years in...
Tech Teacher | Jan. 28, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.
If they try to make me work year round for the same salary I can get...
Science Teacher | Jan. 25, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.
- Priestley, wife have baby boy 10:23 p.m.
- Underwood concert for soldiers 10:21 p.m.
- Plant honored by Prince Charles 10:20 p.m.
- National news briefs 10:08 p.m.
- Bull kills runner at Pamplona 10:05 p.m.
- Free after 14 years for contempt 9:56 p.m.
- Photo: Missing a sister 9:55 p.m.
- 'Hope' poster artist guilty of vandalism 9:51 p.m.
- Report disputes wiretapping 9:51 p.m.
- Tax rich for health care, Demos say 9:50 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
75 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Thanks for 3 good years Paul. The Jazz gave you the chance to earn this phat...
Sweet! Don't the Dem's realize that when you crush the rich, there will be...
I want to know who said Mike did all of this? There are no facts or proof to...
Another difference is the U actually BEATS their ranked and BCS opponents....
I too am glad that McKay Coppins has decided to put the whole "marriage...
BYU and Utah commentators, Can't we all just get along? Both schools are...
Whereas many of the "faith-promoting" stories that circulate in Mormon...
Thanks for the clarification. (For the record, I knew you weren't a full-time...
REgardless if anyone lied, if in actuality there were any lies, Obama,...
The BCS is accused, fairly, of at least two things: 1. Keeping the title...

