Utah Code § 53F-2-311 — Utah Code / Title 53F / Chapter 53F-2 / § 53F-2-311
§ 53F-2-311. Weighted pupil units for career and technical education programs -- Funding of approved programs -- Performance measures -- Qualifying criteria.
Status: in_force

7/1/2026 (1) (a) Money appropriated to the state board for approved career and technical education programs: (i) shall be allocated to eligible recipients as provided in Subsections (2), (3), and (4); and (ii) may not be used to fund programs below grade 9. (b) Subsection (1)(a)(ii) does not apply to the work-based learning programs. (2) (a) Weighted pupil units are computed for pupils in approved programs. (b) (i) The state board shall fund approved programs based upon hours of membership of grades 9 through 12 students. (ii) Subsection (2)(b)(i) does not apply to the work-based learning programs. (c) The state board shall use an amount not to exceed 20% of the total appropriation under this section to fund approved programs based on performance measures such as placement and competency attainment defined in standards set by the state board. (d) The state board shall make the necessary calculations for distribution of the appropriation to a school district and charter school and may revise and recommend changes necessary for achieving equity and ease of administration. (3) (a) Twenty weighted pupil units shall be computed for career and technical education administrative costs for each school district, except 25 weighted pupil units may be computed for each school district that consolidates career and technical education administrative services with one or more other school districts. (b) Between 10 and 25 weighted pupil units shall be computed for each high school conducting approved career and technical education programs in a school district according to standards established by the state board. (c) Forty weighted pupil units shall be computed for each school district that operates an approved career and technical education center, which may include a comprehensive high school that meets the requirements of this Subsection (3). (d) Between five and seven weighted pupil units shall be computed for each summer career and technical education agriculture program according to standards established by the state board. (e) (i) The state board shall, by rule, establish qualifying criteria for a school district or charter school to receive weighted pupil units under this Subsection (3). (ii) In making rules under Subsection (3)(e)(i), the state board may not regulate the operational structure or staffing model of a career and technical education center. (f) (i) A comprehensive high school may qualify as an approved career and technical education center under Subsection (3)(c) if the high school offers career and technical education programs that meet state board standards. (ii) A local school board or charter school governing board may determine the administrative structure for a career and technical education center, including whether to designate a separate administrator for the center. (4) (a) Money remaining after the allocations made under Subsections (2) and (3) shall be allocated using average daily membership in approved programs for the previous year. (b) A school district or charter school that has experienced student growth in grades 9 through 12 for the previous year shall have the growth factor applied to the previous year's weighted pupil units when calculating the allocation of money under this Subsection (4). (c) An LEA may use funds received through the general allocation described in this Subsection (4) for Technology-Life-Careers and student leadership organizations. (5) (a) The state board shall establish rules for upgrading high school career and technical education programs. (b) The rules shall reflect career and technical training and actual marketable job skills in society. (c) The rules shall include procedures to assist school districts and charter schools to convert existing programs that are not preparing students for the job market into programs that will accomplish that purpose. (6) Programs that do not meet state board standards may not be funded under this section.7/1/2026 (1) (a) Money appropriated to the state board for approved career and technical education programs: (i) shall be allocated to eligible recipients as provided in Subsections (2), (3), and (4); and (ii) may not be used to fund programs below grade 9. (b) Subsection (1)(a)(ii) does not apply to the work-based learning programs. (2) (a) Weighted pupil units are computed for pupils in approved programs. (b) (i) The state board shall fund approved programs based upon hours of membership of grades 9 through 12 students. (ii) Subsection (2)(b)(i) does not apply to the work-based learning programs. (c) The state board shall use an amount not to exceed 20% of the total appropriation under this section to fund approved programs based on performance measures such as placement and competency attainment defined in standards set by the state board. (d) The state board shall make the necessary calculations for distribution of the appropriation to a school district and charter school and may revise and recommend changes necessary for achieving equity and ease of administration. (3) (a) Twenty weighted pupil units shall be computed for career and technical education administrative costs for each school district, except 25 weighted pupil units may be computed for each school district that consolidates career and technical education administrative services with one or more other school districts. (b) Between 10 and 25 weighted pupil units shall be computed for each high school conducting approved career and technical education programs in a school district according to standards established by the state board. (c) Forty weighted pupil units shall be computed for each school district that operates an approved career and technical education center, which may include a comprehensive high school that meets the requirements of this Subsection (3). (d) Between five and seven weighted pupil units shall be computed for each summer career and technical education agriculture program according to standards established by the state board. (e) (i) The state board shall, by rule, establish qualifying criteria for a school district or charter school to receive weighted pupil units under this Subsection (3). (ii) In making rules under Subsection (3)(e)(i), the state board may not regulate the operational structure or staffing model of a career and technical education center. (f) (i) A comprehensive high school may qualify as an approved career and technical education center under Subsection (3)(c) if the high school offers career and technical education programs that meet state board standards. (ii) A local school board or charter school governing board may determine the administrative structure for a career and technical education center, including whether to designate a separate administrator for the center. (4) (a) Money remaining after the allocations made under Subsections (2) and (3) shall be allocated using average daily membership in approved programs for the previous year. (b) A school district or charter school that has experienced student growth in grades 9 through 12 for the previous year shall have the growth factor applied to the previous year's weighted pupil units when calculating the allocation of money under this Subsection (4). (c) An LEA may use funds received through the general allocation described in this Subsection (4) for Technology-Life-Careers and student leadership organizations. (5) (a) The state board shall establish rules for upgrading high school career and technical education programs. (b) The rules shall reflect career and technical training and actual marketable job skills in society. (c) The rules shall include procedures to assist school districts and charter schools to convert existing programs that are not preparing students for the job market into programs that will accomplish that purpose. (6) Programs that do not meet state board standards may not be funded under this section.