Utah Code § 53F-5-224 — Utah Code / Title 53F / Chapter 53F-5 / § 53F-5-224
§ 53F-5-224. Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Advisory board" means a group of individuals, which may include industry, postsecondary, and community representatives, that reviews program direction and ensures alignment with workforce needs. (b) "Applied professional education experience center" or "APEX center" means a program or facility operated by an LEA that: (i) provides learning experiences and instruction that replicate professional environments and workplace practices, including experiences obtained through the Utah First Credential program described in Section 53E-10-310; (ii) provides profession-based learning experiences by partnering with local industry, business, and community organizations to develop and implement student projects that address specific needs or objectives identified by those partners; (iii) aligns programs with high-skill, high-demand career pathways and postsecondary education opportunities; (iv) incorporates industry-standard tools, technologies, and methods into instruction and student work; (v) prioritizes student activities and profession-based learning projects to build durable professional skills aligned with industry standards and needs; (vi) facilitates mentorship and participation by industry professionals to guide a student and evaluate the student's work; (vii) includes an advisory board; and (viii) establishes programs or activities that address gaps in training or resources within the local or regional workforce. (c) "Consortium" means two or more LEAs located within the same career and technical education geographic planning region. (d) "Director" means the employee described in Subsection (3). (e) "LEA" means: (i) a school district; (ii) charter school; or (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. (f) "Program" means the Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program created in this section. (g) "Unwarranted duplication" means the overlap of resources that lead to inefficiencies, wasted resources, or a lack of coordination in providing comprehensive career and technical education programs. (2) Subject to legislative appropriation as described in Section 53F-9-204, the state board shall establish the Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program to provide funding to an LEA to create or expand an existing APEX center. (3) The state board shall hire a director to oversee the program who: (a) has demonstrated abilities in: (i) developing and implementing innovative initiatives that transform traditional education delivery models; (ii) establishing public-private partnership frameworks that create student pathways into high-growth industries; and (iii) scaling programs that integrate real-world experiences directly into educational environments; (b) possesses expertise in: (i) managing complex multi-stakeholder initiatives across education, industry, and government sectors; (ii) implementing data-driven organizational change strategies; and (iii) developing sustainable funding models for innovative education programs; (c) maintains active leadership roles in: (i) state or national workforce innovation organizations; (ii) industry associations focused on talent development; and (iii) public-private collaboratives addressing workforce transformation; (d) reports directly to the state superintendent or a deputy superintendent to ensure appropriate program oversight and cross-departmental coordination while maintaining distinct program objectives and outcomes; (e) establishes formal collaboration mechanisms with the state board's career and technical education director to align APEX center initiatives with existing career and technical education programs; and (f) facilitates training and a collaborative network of experienced APEX center administrators and instructors across all participating LEAs. (4) The director: (a) shall: (i) administer the program; (ii) collaborate with the director of career and technical education to align the program with the career and technical education standards described in Section 53F-5-224; (iii) create a web-based application system to streamline submissions and allow for linked supporting documentation; (iv) ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with this section; and (v) allow grant funds to be used for planning, including: (A) feasibility studies; (B) stakeholder engagement; (C) labor market analysis; (D) initial program design and rollout; and (E) teacher and staff training specific to the delivery of profession-based learning; and (b) may collaborate with the Utah System of Higher Education and the First Credential Oversight Committee established in Section 53E-10-310. (5) An LEA applying for a grant shall demonstrate capacity for workforce alignment programs within the LEA or provide a plan to establish or enhance alignment by: (a) describing current or planned efforts to align programming with labor market needs and local industry demands; (b) outlining steps to establish or enhance partnerships with: (i) local industries and employers to ensure workforce relevance; or (ii) technical colleges, degree-granting institutions, or other postsecondary entities to support postsecondary transitions for students; (c) identifying proposed programming goals and how the goals address gaps in regional workforce training or opportunities; and (d) as the LEA determines relevant, planning to incorporate: (i) career and technical student organizations; (ii) advisory boards with representation from local industries and workforce experts; (iii) professional learning opportunities for instructors to improve workforce-focused skills; and (iv) strategies for using labor market data to refine and improve program offerings. (6) (a) An LEA may apply for a grant by submitting an application to the state board. (b) The application shall include: (i) a plan to: (A) create or expand one or more APEX centers; or (B) create or expand current career and technical education offerings within the LEA to bring the LEA's career and technical education offerings in alignment with the definition of an APEX center in Subsection (1); (ii) a detailed multi-year budget, identifying proposed expenditures for each year of the grant; (iii) justification for any capital expenditures, including plans for building use; (iv) a description of how the grant will be used to improve student outcomes, including: (A) increased access to career pathway offerings; (B) measurable improvements in career readiness, including certifications, credentials, or apprenticeships; (C) increased offerings that advance students' progression toward postsecondary education or advanced training; and (D) plans for enhanced student engagement through real-world, profession-based learning; (v) evidence of any existing partnerships with industry, including letters of collaboration; (vi) evidence of alignment with the LEA's strategic plan and local labor market needs; (vii) an explanation of how awarded funds will be used without unnecessary carryforward; (viii) a description of well-defined metrics the LEA will use to establish and measure student proficiency; (ix) as applicable, a description of how the APEX center programming will align with or enhance programs funded by the weighted pupil unit add-on described in Section 53F-2-311; (x) for applications submitted by a consortium of LEAs, a description of how: (A) the APEX center will serve students across the consortium; (B) costs and resources will be shared; and (C) economies of scale will be achieved; and (xi) a description of any proposed planning activities, including expected timelines and outcomes. (7) (a) The director shall: (i) prioritize an LEA that: (A) proposes innovative programming supported by local labor market data; (B) collaborates with local postsecondary institutions and industry; (C) demonstrates the ability to sustain the APEX center after the grant period; (D) demonstrates a strong focus on student outcomes and workforce alignment; (E) addresses gaps in high-demand, high-skill career pathways; (F) ensures funds are used to enhance programming quality before expansion; and (G) provides for a large number of students to participate in APEX center programs without limiting participation to students based on socio-economic challenges; (ii) allow an LEA to apply for: (A) smaller grants to bring existing career and technical education programs to high-quality standards the state board establishes; (B) larger multi-year grants for capital expenditures and program expansion; and (C) ensure that grant funding does not duplicate existing resources provided by other state or local entities; (iii) consider the unique challenges and opportunities faced by rural LEAs in developing and sustaining a career and technical education program or APEX center, including: (A) encouraging collaborative applications from rural consortia or regional education service agencies described in Section 53G-4-410 to maximize resources and impact; and (B) grant awards that consider both rural and non-rural applicants, recognizing regional workforce needs and program readiness; and (iv) allow an LEA to propose an APEX center collocated on the campus of an institution of higher education if the application includes evidence of an agreement between the LEA and the institution of higher education. (b) The LEA: (i) shall direct the coordination with local postsecondary institutions and industry described in Subsection (7)(a)(i)(B) in a manner that the LEA determines is in the best interest of the program; and (ii) may tailor the level of collaboration described in Subsection (7)(a)(i)(B) to the individual needs of each program and of each offering within the program. (c) Nothing in Subsection (7)(a)(i)(G) allows the director to prioritize an LEA with more students over an LEA with fewer students. (8) (a) An LEA that receives a grant shall use program funds to plan for, create, establish, enhance, or expand an APEX center that: (i) provides learning experiences and instruction that: (A) replicates professional environments and workplace practices; (B) builds leadership skills; (C) builds durable professional skills; (D) allows students to advance as the students demonstrate proficiency through well-defined metrics; (E) uses student projects that address the specific needs or objectives of industry partners; (F) incorporates industry-standard tools, technologies, and methods; (G) provides opportunities for students to develop a product or presentation that the students or an industry partner shares with an audience; and (H) facilitates mentorship by industry professionals to guide and evaluate the student's work; (ii) aligns programming with labor market needs and local industry demands; (iii) establishes or enhances partnerships with: (A) local industries and employers to ensure workforce relevance; or (B) as the LEA determines, technical colleges, degree-granting institutions, or other postsecondary entities to support postsecondary transitions for students; (iv) addresses gaps in regional workforce training or opportunities; (v) incorporates: (A) career and technical student organizations as the LEA determines relevant; (B) advisory boards with representation from local industries and workforce experts; (C) professional learning opportunities for instructors to improve workforce-focused skills; and (D) strategies for using labor market data to refine and improve program offerings; (vi) focuses on the unique needs and circumstances of the local student body, community, and industry partners; and (vii) aligns with state board standards for CTE quality. (b) An LEA that receives a grant: (i) may coordinate and collaborate with the Utah Board of Higher Education or an individual institution of higher education; and (ii) shall submit an annual report to the state board. (c) The report described in Subsection (8)(b) shall include: (i) the use of grant funds; (ii) progress in meeting proposed goals and benchmarks, including student proficiency measurements using the well-defined metrics described in Subsection (6)(b)(viii); (iii) updates on partnerships with industry and postsecondary institutions; (iv) a demonstration of the alignment of programming with labor market data; and (v) a description of student participation and outcomes. (d) The state board shall ensure that awarded funds: (i) are used in accordance with an LEA's application; and (ii) that are not used are returned for reallocation. (e) Upon request, the director shall submit a report on the program to the Education Interim Committee and the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee. (9) The Talent Ready Utah Program described in Section 53H-13-303 and the Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education established in Section 53E-10-702, shall collaborate with the state board to develop and execute a marketing and outreach plan for the Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program. (10) Talent Ready Utah and the Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education shall: (a) execute the marketing and outreach plan described in Subsection (9); and (b) submit an annual report to the state board that includes: (i) the number of LEAs reached through marketing efforts; (ii) a description of outreach activities and events conducted; and (iii) feedback from LEAs regarding program accessibility and clarity. (11) The state board: (a) may provide up to 1% of the funds appropriated by the Legislature as described in Section 53F-9-204 to administer the program; (b) in fiscal year 2026, shall provide up to 1% of the funds appropriated by the Legislature as described in Section 53F-9-204 to Talent Ready Utah and the Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education for the purposes described in Subsections (9) and (10); and (c) shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement this Subsection (11).