2015 Utah Code
Title 53A - State System of Public Education
Chapter 17a - Minimum School Program Act
Part 1 - Minimum School Program
Section 162 - Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program.

Effective 3/2/2015
53A-17a-162. Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program.

• (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.
  • (d) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
    • (i) a school district;
    • (ii) a charter school; or
    • (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

• (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 six 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 of Education 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 of Education 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 53A-3-701 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 State Board of Education shall:
  • (a) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to administer the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program; and
  • (b) after consultation with endowed chairs and the integrated arts advocate, submit an annual written report to the Education Interim Committee describing the program's impact on students in kindergarten through grade six.

Amended by Chapter 12, 2015 General Session