Small school student access to courses

Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection 53F-4-514(2), and notwithstanding Subsections 53F-4-509(2) and (3), the state board shall: (1) use funds from an appropriation for the Statewide Online Education Program to pay for an online course fee described in Section 53F-4-505 for a student who is enrolled in a public high school that enrolls fewer than 1,000 students; (2) after the funds described in Subsection (1) have been expended, make a deduction as described in Subsection 53F-4-507(3); (3) establish a prioritized funding distribution system that evaluates and ranks schools based on: (a) the school's demonstrated inability to provide courses, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Concurrent Enrollment due to: (i) insufficient student enrollment to justify full course sections; (ii) geographic isolation from qualified instructors; (iii) limited staff capacity to teach courses; or (iv) financial constraints in hiring qualified instructors; and (b) the school's current access to college and career readiness programming; (4) develop an annual assessment process to: (a) identify schools with the highest demonstrated need based on the criteria in Subsection (3); and (b) adjust funding priorities based on program outcomes; (5) establish reporting requirements for recipient schools to: (a) document the use of allocated funds; (b) track student participation in online courses; (c) measure student achievement in funded courses; and (d) demonstrate ongoing need for continued funding; and (6) at the request of the Education Interim Committee, submit a report that includes: (a) a list of schools receiving prioritized funding; (b) the basis for funding prioritization; (c) student participation and achievement data; and (d) recommendations for program improvement.