2010 Utah Code
Title 53A - State System of Public Education
Chapter 01 - Administration of Public Education at the State Level
53A-1-409 - Competency-based education -- Recommendations -- Coordination.

53A-1-409. Competency-based education -- Recommendations -- Coordination.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Competency" means a demonstrable acquisition of a specified knowledge, skill, or ability that has been organized into a hierarchical arrangement leading to higher levels of knowledge, skill, or ability.
(b) "Competency-based education" means an education approach that requires students to acquire a competency and includes a classroom structure and operation that aid and facilitate the acquisition of specified competencies on an individual basis wherein students are allowed to master and demonstrate competencies as fast as they are able.
(c) "Gain score" means the measured difference of a student's score at the beginning and end of a time period that may be aggregated at the class, grade, school, and school district levels.
(2) The State Board of Education shall:
(a) provide expertise to and consult with local school boards and school districts relating to competency-based education and progress-based assessments;
(b) make recommendations to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, including the amount and allocation of public education money, based upon both new public education money and the reallocation of money required to develop and implement:
(i) competency-based education and progress-based assessments;
(ii) a weighted competency unit that distributes public education money based on student achievement resulting from competency-based program objectives, strategies, and standards;
(iii) a plan to assist students, teachers, schools, and districts that need remediation based upon Subsections (2)(b)(i) and (ii);
(iv) the reallocation of teaching resources from noncore electives into grades 1-3, 7-12 math, and 7-12 English; and
(v) a teacher development program focused on achieving progress in core academics, including instruction in explicit, systematic, and intensive phonics for teachers in grades kindergarten through 3;
(c) assist school districts and charter schools to develop and implement:
(i) competency-based education; and
(ii) the use of gain scores; and
(d) develop and use monetary and nonmonetary incentives, tools, and rewards to encourage school districts and charter schools to accomplish the items described under Subsections (2)(a) through (c).

Amended by Chapter 19, 2004 General Session