(1) As used in this section: (a) "Educator" means an individual who holds a professional educator license described in Section 53E-6-201. (b) "First-year educator" means an educator who is: (i) a classroom teacher; and (ii) in the educator's first year of teaching. (c) "High-need school" means an elementary school in an LEA that qualifies for a grant under this section based on the criteria established by the state board under Subsection (5)(a)(ii). (d) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means a school district or charter school. (e) "Title I school" means a school that receives funds under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.

(a) "Educator" means an individual who holds a professional educator license described in Section 53E-6-201.

(b) "First-year educator" means an educator who is: (i) a classroom teacher; and (ii) in the educator's first year of teaching.

(i) a classroom teacher; and

(ii) in the educator's first year of teaching.

(c) "High-need school" means an elementary school in an LEA that qualifies for a grant under this section based on the criteria established by the state board under Subsection (5)(a)(ii).

(d) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means a school district or charter school.

(e) "Title I school" means a school that receives funds under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.

(2) Subject to legislative appropriations, and in accordance with this section, the state board shall award a grant to an LEA to fund the salary and benefits for an additional first-year educator to teach in a high-need school.

(3) The state board shall: (a) solicit proposals from LEAs to receive a grant under this section; and (b) award grants to LEAs on a competitive basis based on the LEA applications described in Subsection (4)(a).

(a) solicit proposals from LEAs to receive a grant under this section; and

(b) award grants to LEAs on a competitive basis based on the LEA applications described in Subsection (4)(a).

(4) To receive a grant under this section, an LEA shall: (a) submit an application to the state board that: (i) lists the school or schools for which the LEA intends to use a grant; (ii) describes how each school for which the LEA intends to use a grant meets the criteria for being a high-need school; and (iii) includes any other information required by the board under the rules described in Subsection (5); and (b) provide matching funds in an amount equal to the grant received by the LEA under this section.

(a) submit an application to the state board that: (i) lists the school or schools for which the LEA intends to use a grant; (ii) describes how each school for which the LEA intends to use a grant meets the criteria for being a high-need school; and (iii) includes any other information required by the board under the rules described in Subsection (5); and

(i) lists the school or schools for which the LEA intends to use a grant;

(ii) describes how each school for which the LEA intends to use a grant meets the criteria for being a high-need school; and

(iii) includes any other information required by the board under the rules described in Subsection (5); and

(b) provide matching funds in an amount equal to the grant received by the LEA under this section.

(5) (a) The state board shall make rules specifying: (i) the procedure for an LEA to apply for a grant under this section, including application requirements; and (ii) the criteria for determining if an elementary school is a high-need school. (b) In establishing the criteria described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii), the state board shall consider the following factors: (i) Title I school status; (ii) low school performance, as indicated by the school accountability system described in Title 53E, Chapter 5, Part 2, School Accountability System; (iii) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are either experiencing or at risk of experiencing intergenerational poverty; (iv) a high ratio of students to educators in the school; (v) higher than average educator turnover in the school; (vi) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are experiencing homelessness; and (vii) other factors determined by the state board.

(a) The state board shall make rules specifying: (i) the procedure for an LEA to apply for a grant under this section, including application requirements; and (ii) the criteria for determining if an elementary school is a high-need school.

(i) the procedure for an LEA to apply for a grant under this section, including application requirements; and

(ii) the criteria for determining if an elementary school is a high-need school.

(b) In establishing the criteria described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii), the state board shall consider the following factors: (i) Title I school status; (ii) low school performance, as indicated by the school accountability system described in Title 53E, Chapter 5, Part 2, School Accountability System; (iii) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are either experiencing or at risk of experiencing intergenerational poverty; (iv) a high ratio of students to educators in the school; (v) higher than average educator turnover in the school; (vi) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are experiencing homelessness; and (vii) other factors determined by the state board.

(i) Title I school status;

(ii) low school performance, as indicated by the school accountability system described in Title 53E, Chapter 5, Part 2, School Accountability System;

(iii) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are either experiencing or at risk of experiencing intergenerational poverty;

(iv) a high ratio of students to educators in the school;

(v) higher than average educator turnover in the school;

(vi) a high percentage of students enrolled in the school who are experiencing homelessness; and

(vii) other factors determined by the state board.

(6) An LEA that receives a grant under this section shall: (a) (i) use the grant to fund a portion of the cost of the salary and benefits for an additional first-year educator who teaches in a high-need school; and (ii) maintain a class size of fewer than 20 students for a first-year educator whose salary and benefits are funded by the grant; and (b) annually submit a report to the state board describing: (i) how the LEA used the grant; and (ii) whether the grant was effective in maintaining a smaller class size for the first-year educator whose salary and benefits were funded by the grant.

(a) (i) use the grant to fund a portion of the cost of the salary and benefits for an additional first-year educator who teaches in a high-need school; and (ii) maintain a class size of fewer than 20 students for a first-year educator whose salary and benefits are funded by the grant; and

(i) use the grant to fund a portion of the cost of the salary and benefits for an additional first-year educator who teaches in a high-need school; and

(ii) maintain a class size of fewer than 20 students for a first-year educator whose salary and benefits are funded by the grant; and

(b) annually submit a report to the state board describing: (i) how the LEA used the grant; and (ii) whether the grant was effective in maintaining a smaller class size for the first-year educator whose salary and benefits were funded by the grant.

(i) how the LEA used the grant; and

(ii) whether the grant was effective in maintaining a smaller class size for the first-year educator whose salary and benefits were funded by the grant.