§ 53A-17a-169. Student Leadership Skills Development Pilot Program. (Effective 7/1/2014)

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.

(b) "Pilot program" means the Student Leadership Skills Development Pilot Program created in Subsection (2).

(2) There is created the Student Leadership Skills Development Pilot Program to develop student behaviors and skills that enhance a school's learning environment and are vital for success in a career, including:

(a) communication skills;

(b) teamwork skills;

(c) interpersonal skills;

(d) initiative and self-motivation;

(e) goal setting skills;

(f) problem solving skills; and

(g) creativity.

(3)

(a) The board shall administer the program and award grants to elementary schools that apply for a grant on a competitive basis.

(b) The board may award a grant of:

(i) up to $10,000 per school for the first year a school participates in the pilot program; and

(ii) up to $20,000 per school for subsequent years a school participates in the pilot program.

(4) An elementary school may participate in the pilot program established under this section in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.

(5) In selecting elementary schools to participate in the pilot program, the board shall:

(a) require a school in the first year the school participates in the pilot program to provide matching funds or an in-kind contribution of goods or services in an amount equal to the grant the school receives from the board;

(b) require a school to participate in the pilot program for two years; and

(c) give preference to Title I schools or schools in need of academic improvement.

(6) A school that receives a grant described in Subsection (3) shall:

(a)

(i) set school-wide goals for the school's student leadership skills development program; and

(ii) require each student to set personal goals; and

(b) provide the following to the board after the first school year of implementation of the program:

(i) evidence that the grant money was used for the purpose of purchasing or developing the school's own student leadership skills development program; and

(ii) a report on the effectiveness and impact of the school's student leadership skills development program on student behavior and academic results as measured by:

(A) a reduction in truancy;

(B) assessments of academic achievement;

(C) a reduction in incidents of student misconduct or disciplinary actions; and

(D) the achievement of school-wide goals and students' personal goals.

(7) After three years' participation in the pilot program, a school may not receive additional grant money if the school fails to demonstrate an improvement in student behavior and academic achievement as measured by the data reported under Subsection (6).

(8)

(a) The board shall make a report on the pilot program to the Education Interim Committee by the committee's October 2016 meeting.

(b) The report shall include an evaluation of the pilot program's success in enhancing a school's learning environment and improving academic achievement.

Amended by Chapter 393, 2014 General Session