Incentives for extra teaching days approved, now wait for funding

The Senate Thursday approved two measures that would give teachers in critical shortages areas extra teaching days — aimed at boosting compensation and netting more qualified teachers.

HB67, sponsored by Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, R-Garland, would give up to 10 extra teaching days to special educators during the year and provides $200-a-day stipends.

"I have learned over the years in dealing with special education teachers that there is a tremendous amount of extra time that they put in," said Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, co-sponsor of the bill.

He said the measure, which would require an appropriation of $8.2 million, will help a group of teachers who will pay back dividends, and will also be an incentive for teachers to go into the special education field.

The Senate also signed off on HB270, also co-sponsored by Hillyard, which 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 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. Whether it gets funded will be decided during the budget process, which will begin next week after new revenue estimates are released.

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. Schools could craft the programs to fit their specific needs, and leaders say the measure could boost a school's ability to compete in getting quality teachers in the critical shortage areas of math and science. It could also potentially result in decreased class sizes, improved student college preparation and opportunities for earlier high school graduation.

"This is an important consideration as we face the need of more math and science teachers," Hillyard said.

Though the bills have now been approved by both bodies, the House will determine later this session if the measures will be funded.

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