Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 293 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Peterson, V.

Final action

House/ filed 3/12/2015

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• modifies:
• the membership and duties of the STEM Action Center Board;
• the duties of the executive director of the STEM Action Center;
• the rulemaking authority of the State Board of Education related to the award of STEM education endorsement incentives; and
• the requirements for a STEM education high quality professional development application;
• adds Utah State University Eastern to the list of educational institutions that may partner with a school district or charter school to provide a STEM related certification program; and
• make technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND
MATHEMATICS EDUCATION PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Val L. Peterson
Senate Sponsor: 
 Stephen H. Urquhart
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics) Action Center.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ modifies:
• the membership and duties of the STEM Action Center Board;
• the duties of the executive director of the STEM Action Center;
• the rulemaking authority of the State Board of Education related to the award of
STEM education endorsement incentives; and
• the requirements for a STEM education high quality professional development
application;
▸ adds Utah State University Eastern to the list of educational institutions that may
partner with a school district or charter school to provide a STEM related
certification program; and
▸ make technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63M-1-3202
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 318
63M-1-3203
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapters 189 and 318
63M-1-3204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapters 63 and 318
63M-1-3208
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 318
63M-1-3209
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 318
63M-1-3211
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 318
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
63M-1-3202
 is amended to read:
63M-1-3202.
STEM Action Center Board creation -- Membership.
(1) There is created the STEM Action Center Board within the office, composed of the
following members:
(a) six private sector members who represent business, appointed by the governor;
(b) the state superintendent of public instruction or the state superintendent of public
instruction's designee;
(c) the commissioner of higher education or the commissioner of higher education's
designee;
(d) one member appointed by the governor;
(e) a member of the State Board of Education, chosen by the chair of the State Board of
Education;
(f) the executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development or the
executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development's designee;
(g) the president of the Utah College of Applied Technology or the president of the
Utah College of Applied Technology's designee; [
and
]
(h) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the executive
director of the Department of Workforce Services' designee; and
[
(h)
] 
(i)
 one member who has a degree in engineering and experience working in a
government military installation, appointed by the governor.
(2) (a) The private sector members appointed by the governor in Subsection (1)(a) shall
represent a business or trade association whose primary focus is science, technology, or
engineering.
(b) Except as required by Subsection (2)(c), members appointed by the governor shall
be appointed to four-year terms.
(c) The length of terms of the members shall be staggered so that approximately half of
the committee is appointed every two years.
(d) The members may not serve more than two full consecutive terms except where the
governor determines that an additional term is in the best interest of the state.
(e) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
appointed for the unexpired term.
(3) Attendance of a simple majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of official committee business.
(4) Formal action by the committee requires a majority vote of a quorum.
(5) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
(a) Section 
63A-3-106
;
(b) Section 
63A-3-107
; and
(c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 
63A-3-106
 and
63A-3-107
.
(6) The governor shall select the chair of the board to serve a one-year term.
(7) The executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development or the
executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development's designee shall serve as
the vice chair of the board.
Section 2. Section 
63M-1-3203
 is amended to read:
63M-1-3203.
STEM Action Center Board -- Duties.
(1) The board shall:
(a) establish a STEM Action Center to:
(i) coordinate STEM activities in the state among the following stakeholders:
(A) the State Board of Education;
(B) school districts and charter schools;
(C) the State Board of Regents;
(D) institutions of higher education;
(E) parents of home-schooled students; [
and
]
(F) other state agencies; 
and
(G) business and industry representatives;
(ii) align public education STEM activities with higher education STEM activities; and
(iii) create and coordinate best practices among public education and higher education;
(b) with the consent of the Senate, appoint an executive director to oversee the
administration of the STEM Action Center;
(c) select a physical location for the STEM Action Center;
(d) strategically engage industry and business entities to cooperate with the board:
(i) to support high quality professional development and provide other assistance for
educators and students; and
(ii) to provide private funding and support for the STEM Action Center;
(e) give direction to the STEM Action Center and the providers selected through a
request for proposals process pursuant to this part; and
(f) work to meet the following expectations:
(i) that at least 50 educators are implementing best practice learning tools in
classrooms per each [
product specialist or
] manager working with the STEM Action Center;
(ii) performance change in student achievement in each classroom working with a
STEM Action Center [
product specialist or
] manager; and
(iii) that students from at least 50 [
high
] schools 
in the state
 participate in the STEM
competitions, fairs, and camps described in Subsection 
63M-1-3204
(2)(d).
(2) The board may:
(a) enter into contracts for the purposes of this part;
(b) apply for, receive, and disburse funds, contributions, or grants from any source for
the purposes set forth in this part;
(c) employ, compensate, and prescribe the duties and powers of individuals necessary
to execute the duties and powers of the board;
(d) prescribe the duties and powers of the STEM Action Center providers; and
(e) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
make rules to administer this part.
(3) The board may establish a foundation to assist in:
(a) the development and implementation of the programs authorized under this part to
promote STEM education; and
(b) implementation of other STEM education objectives described in this part.
(4) A foundation established by the board under Subsection (3):
(a) may solicit and receive contributions from a private organization for STEM
education objectives described in this part;
(b) shall comply with Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money Management Act;
(c) does not have power or authority to incur contractual obligations or liabilities that
constitute a claim against public funds;
(d) may not exercise executive or administrative authority over the programs or other
activities described in this part, except to the extent specifically authorized by the board;
(e) shall provide the board with information detailing transactions and balances of
funds managed for the board; and
(f) may not:
(i) engage in lobbying activities;
(ii) attempt to influence legislation; or
(iii) participate in any campaign activity for or against:
(A) a political candidate; or
(B) an initiative, referendum, proposed constitutional amendment, bond, or any other
ballot proposition submitted to the voters.
(5) Money donated to a foundation established under Subsection (3) may be accounted
for in an expendable special revenue fund.
Section 3. Section 
63M-1-3204
 is amended to read:
63M-1-3204.
STEM Action Center.
(1) As funding allows, the board shall:
(a) establish a STEM Action Center;
(b) ensure that the STEM Action Center:
(i) is accessible by the public; and
(ii) includes the components described in Subsection (2);
(c) work cooperatively with the State Board of Education to:
(i) further STEM education; and
(ii) ensure best practices are implemented as described in Sections 
63M-1-3205
 and
63M-1-3206
; [
and
]
(d) engage private entities to provide financial support or employee time for STEM
activities in schools in addition to what is currently provided by private entities[
.
]
; and
(e) work cooperatively with stakeholders to support and promote activities that align
STEM education and training activities with the employment needs of business and industry in
the state.
(2) As funding allows, the executive director of the STEM Action Center shall:
(a) support high quality professional development for educators regarding STEM
education;
(b) ensure that the STEM Action Center acts as a research and development center for
STEM education through a request for proposals process described in Section 
63M-1-3205
;
(c) review and acquire STEM education related materials and products for:
(i) high quality professional development;
(ii) assessment, data collection, analysis, and reporting; and
(iii) public school instruction;
(d) facilitate participation in interscholastic STEM related competitions, fairs, camps,
and STEM education activities;
(e) engage private industry in the development and maintenance of the STEM Action
Center and STEM Action Center projects;
(f) use resources to bring the latest STEM education learning tools into public
education classrooms;
(g) identify at least 10 best practice innovations used in Utah that have resulted in [
at
least 80% of students performing at grade level
] 
a measurable improvement in student
performance or outcomes
 in STEM areas;
(h) identify best practices being used outside the state and, as appropriate, develop and
implement selected practices through a pilot program;
(i) identify:
(i) learning tools for kindergarten through grade 6 identified as best practices; and
(ii) learning tools for grades 7 through 12 identified as best practices;
(j) provide a Utah best practices database, including best practices from public
education, higher education, the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, and other STEM
related entities;
(k) keep track of the following items related to the best practices database described in
Subsection (2)(j):
(i) how the best practices database is being used; and
(ii) how many individuals are using the database, including the demographics of the
users, if available;
(l) as appropriate, join and participate in a national STEM network;
[
(m) identify performance changes linked to use of the best practices database
described in Subsection (2)(j);
]
[
(n)
] 
(m)
 work cooperatively with the State Board of Education to designate schools as
STEM schools, where the schools have agreed to adopt a plan of STEM implementation in
alignment with criteria set by the State Board of Education and the board;
[
(o)
] 
(n)
 support best methods of high quality professional development for STEM
education in kindergarten through grade 12, including methods of high quality professional
development that reduce cost and increase effectiveness, to help educators learn how to most
effectively implement best practice learning tools in classrooms;
[
(p)
] 
(o)
 recognize a high school's achievement in the STEM competitions, fairs, and
camps described in Subsection (2)(d);
[
(q)
] 
(p)
 send student results from STEM competitions, fairs, and camps described in
Subsection (2)(d) to media and ask the media to report on them;
[
(r)
] 
(q)
 develop and distribute STEM information to parents of students [
being served
by the STEM Action Center
] 
in the state
;
[
(s)
] 
(r)
 support targeted high quality professional development for improved
instruction in STEM education, including:
(i) improved instructional materials that are dynamic and engaging for students;
(ii) use of applied instruction; and
(iii) introduction of other research-based methods that support student achievement in
STEM areas; and
[
(t)
] 
(s)
 ensure that an online college readiness assessment tool be accessible by:
(i) public education students; and
(ii) higher education students.
(3) The board may prescribe other duties for the STEM Action Center in addition to
the responsibilities described in this section.
(4) (a) The executive director shall track and compare the student performance of
students participating in a STEM Action Center program to all other similarly situated students
in the state, in the following [
STEM related
] activities, at the beginning and end of each year:
(i) public education high school graduation rates;
(ii) the number of students taking a remedial mathematics course at an institution of
higher education described in Section 
53B-2-101
;
(iii) the number of students who graduate from a Utah public school and begin a
postsecondary education program; and
(iv) the number of students, as compared to all similarly situated students, who are
performing at grade level in STEM classes.
(b) The State Board of Education and the State Board of Regents shall provide
information to the board to assist the board in complying with the requirements of Subsection
(4)(a) if allowed under federal law.
Section 4. Section 
63M-1-3208
 is amended to read:
63M-1-3208.
STEM education endorsements and incentive program.
(1) The State Board of Education shall collaborate with the STEM Action Center to:
(a) develop STEM education endorsements; and
(b) create and implement financial incentives for:
(i) an educator to earn an elementary or secondary STEM education endorsement
described in Subsection (1)(a); and
(ii) a school district or a charter school to have STEM endorsed educators on staff.
(2) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
State Board of Education shall make rules [
to establish how a
] 
establishing the uses of
 STEM
education endorsement [
incentive
] 
incentives
 described in Subsection (1)[
(a) will be valued on
a salary scale for educators.
]
, including that:
(a) an incentive for an educator to take a course leading to a STEM education
endorsement may only be given for a course that carries higher-education credit; and
(b) a school district or a charter school may consider a STEM education endorsement
as part of an educator's salary schedule.
Section 5. Section 
63M-1-3209
 is amended to read:
63M-1-3209.
Acquisition of STEM education high quality professional
development.
(1) The STEM Action Center shall, through a request for proposals process, select
technology providers for the purpose of providing a STEM education high quality professional
development application.
(2) The high quality professional development application described in Subsection (1)
shall:
(a) allow the State Board of Education, a school district, or a school to define the
application's input and track results of the high quality professional development;
(b) allow educators to access automatic tools, resources, and strategies
, including
instructional materials with integrated STEM content
;
(c) allow educators to work in online learning communities, including giving and
receiving feedback via uploaded video;
(d) track and report data on the usage of the components of the application's system
and the relationship to improvement in classroom instruction;
(e) include video examples of highly effective STEM education teaching that:
(i) cover a cross section of grade levels and subjects;
(ii) under the direction of the State Board of Education, include videos of highly
effective Utah STEM educators; and
(iii) contain tools to help educators implement what they have learned; and
(f) allow for additional STEM education video content to be added.
(3) In addition to the high quality professional development application described in
Subsections (1) and (2), the STEM Action Center may create STEM education hybrid or
blended high quality professional development that allows for face-to-face applied learning.
Section 6. Section 
63M-1-3211
 is amended to read:
63M-1-3211.
High school STEM education initiative.
(1) Subject to legislative appropriations, after consulting with State Board of Education
staff, the STEM Action Center shall award grants to school districts and charter schools to fund
STEM related certification for high school students.
(2) (a) A school district or charter school may apply for a grant from the STEM Action
Center, through a competitive process, to fund the school district's or charter school's STEM
related certification training program.
(b) A school district's or charter school's STEM related certification training program
shall:
(i) prepare high school students to be job ready for available STEM related positions of
employment; and
(ii) when a student completes the program, result in the student gaining [
a nationally
]
an
 industry-recognized employer STEM related certification.
(3) A school district or charter school may partner with one or more of the following
to provide a STEM related certification program:
(a) a Utah College of Applied Technology college campus;
(b) Salt Lake Community College;
(c) Snow College; [
or
]
(d) Utah State University Eastern; or
[
(d)
] 
(e)
 a private sector employer.
Legislative Review Note
 as of 2-9-15 9:52 AM
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel