Utah Code § 53F-2-506 — Utah Code / Title 53F / Chapter 53F-2 / § 53F-2-506
§ 53F-2-506. Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Endowed chair" means a person who holds an endowed position or administrator of an endowed program for the purpose of arts and integrated arts instruction at an endowed university. (b) "Endowed university" means an institution of higher education in the state that: (i) awards elementary education degrees in arts instruction; (ii) has received a major philanthropic donation for the purpose of arts and integrated arts instruction; and (iii) has created an endowed position as a result of a donation described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii). (c) "Integrated arts advocate" means a person who: (i) advocates for arts and integrated arts instruction in the state; and (ii) coordinates with an endowed chair pursuant to the agreement creating the endowed chair. (2) The Legislature finds that a strategic placement of arts in elementary education can impact the critical thinking of students in other core subject areas, including mathematics, reading, and science. (3) The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program is created to enhance the social, emotional, academic, and arts learning of students in kindergarten through grade 6 by integrating arts teaching and learning into core subject areas and providing professional development for positions that support elementary arts and integrated arts education. (4) From money appropriated for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program, and subject to Subsection (5), the state board shall: (a) consult and receive recommendations from the endowed chairs and the integrated arts advocate; (b) administer a program for an LEA to receive funds to hire highly qualified arts specialists, art coordinators, and other positions that support arts education and arts integration; (c) beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, establish a uniform amount for the funds described in Subsection (4)(b); (d) ensure the uniform amount described in Subsection (4)(c) does not duplicate state funding an educator receives under the educator salary adjustment described in Section 53F-2-405; (e) provide up to $10,000 in one-time funds for each new school educator described under Subsection (4)(b) to purchase supplies and equipment; (f) engage in other activities that improve the quantity and quality of integrated arts education; and (g) before June 1, 2024, report to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee the uniform amount described in Subsection (4)(c). (5) (a) An LEA that receives funds under Subsection (4) shall provide matching funds equal to the difference between the uniform amount established in Subsection (4)(c) and the actual cost of the educator's salary. (b) An LEA may notinclude administrative, facility, or capital costs to provide the matching funds required under Subsection (5)(a). (6) An LEA that receives funds under this section shall partner with an endowed chair to provide professional development in integrated elementary arts education. (7) From money appropriated for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program, the state board shall administer a program to fund activities within arts and the integrated arts programs at an endowed university in the college where the endowed chair resides to: (a) provide high quality professional development in elementary integrated arts education in accordance with the professional learning standards in Section 53G-11-303 to LEAs that receive funds under Subsection (4); (b) design and conduct research on: (i) elementary integrated arts education and instruction; (ii) implementation and evaluation of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program; and (iii) effectiveness of the professional development under Subsection (7)(a); and (c) provide the public with integrated elementary arts education resources. (8) The board shall annually: (a) review the funding the Legislature appropriates for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program; and (b) recommend any adjustments as part of the board's annual budget request, including: (i) an increase to the uniform amount established in Subsection (4)(c); and (ii) increases for adding additional schools to the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program. (9) The state board shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to administer the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program.