Personalized Competency-Based Learning Grants Program -- State board duties -- Review committee -- Technical assistance training

(1) There is created the Personalized Competency-Based Learning Grants Program consisting of the grants created in this part to improve educational outcomes in public schools through personalized, competency-based learning. (2) The grant program shall incentivize an LEA to establish personalized, competency-based learning within the LEA through the use of: (a) personalized learning; (b) blended learning; (c) extended learning; (d) educator professional learning in personalized, competency-based learning; or (e) any other method that emphasizes personalized, competency-based learning. (3) The state board shall: (a) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, adopt rules: (i) for the administration of the grant program and awarding of grants; and (ii) to define outcome-based measures appropriate to the type of grant for an LEA that is awarded a grant under this part to use to measure the performance of the LEA's plan or program; (b) establish a grant application process; (c) in accordance with Subsection (4), establish a review committee to make recommendations to the state board for: (i) metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application; and (ii) approval of a grant application; and (d) with input from the review committee, adopt metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application. (4) (a) The review committee shall consist of STEM and blended learning experts, current and former school administrators, current and former teachers, and at least one former school district superintendent, in addition to other staff designated by the state board. (b) The review committee shall: (i) review a grant application submitted by an LEA; (ii) make recommendations to the LEA to modify the application, if necessary; and (iii) make recommendations to the state board regarding the final disposition of an application. (5) (a) The state board shall provide technical assistance training to assist an LEA with a grant application under this part. (b) An LEA may not apply for a grant under this part unless: (i) a representative of the LEA attends the technical assistance training before the LEA submits a grant application; and (ii) the representative is a superintendent, principal, or a person in a leadership position within the LEA. (c) The technical assistance training shall include: (i) instructions on completing a grant application, including grant application requirements; (ii) information on the scoring metrics used to review a grant application; and (iii) information on personalized, competency-based learning. (6) The state board may use up to 5% of an appropriation provided to fund this part for administration of the grant program.