53F-2-506.  Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program.

(1)  As used in this section:

Terms Used In Utah Code 53F-2-506

  • Administrator: includes "executor" when the subject matter justifies the use. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(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, after consulting with endowed chairs and the integrated arts advocate and receiving their recommendations, administer a grant program to enable LEAs to:

(a)  hire highly qualified arts specialists, art coordinators, and other positions that support arts education and arts integration;

(b)  provide up to $10,000 in one-time funds for each new school arts specialist described under Subsection (4)(a) to purchase supplies and equipment; and

(c)  engage in other activities that improve the quantity and quality of integrated arts education.

(5) 

(a)  An LEA that receives a grant under Subsection (4) shall provide matching funds of no less than 20% of the grant amount, including no less than 20% of the grant amount for actual salary and benefit costs per full-time equivalent position funded under Subsection (4)(a).

(b)  An LEA may not:

(i)  include administrative, facility, or capital costs to provide the matching funds required under Subsection (5)(a); or

(ii)  use funds from the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program to supplant funds for existing programs.

(6)  An LEA that receives a grant 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 grant 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 a grant 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.

(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.

Amended by Chapter 264, 2020 General Session
Amended by Chapter 408, 2020 General Session