1. (1) As used in this section:

   1. (a) "Cohort" means a group of students, defined by the year in which the group enters grade 9.

   2. (b) "Eligible LEA" means an LEA that has demonstrated to the state board that the LEA or, for a school district, a school within the LEA, provides and facilitates personalized, competency-based learning that:

      1. (i) is based on the principles described in Section 53F-5-501; and
      2. (ii) meets other criteria established by the state board in rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.

   3. (c) "Eligible student" means an individual who:

      1. (i) attended an eligible LEA and graduated by completing graduation requirements, as described in Section 53E-4-204, earlier than that individual's cohort completed graduation requirements because of the individual's participation in the eligible LEA's personalized, competency-based learning;
      2. (ii) no longer attends the eligible LEA; and
      3. (iii) is not included in the LEA's average daily membership under this chapter.
   4. (d) "Partial pupil" means if an eligible student attends less than a full year of membership, the number of days the student was in membership compared to a full membership year.
   5. (e) "Program" means the Reimbursement Program for Early Graduation From Personalized, Competency-Based Learning established in this section.

2. (2)

   1. (a) There is established the Reimbursement Program for Early Graduation From Personalized, Competency-Based Learning.
   2. (b) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature may annually appropriate money to the Reimbursement Program for Early Graduation From Personalized, Competency-Based Learning.
3. (3) An LEA may apply to the state board to receive a reimbursement, as described in Subsection (5), for an eligible student.

4. (4) The state board shall approve a reimbursement to an LEA after the LEA demonstrates:

   1. (a) that the LEA is an eligible LEA; and
   2. (b) that the individual for whom the eligible LEA requests reimbursement is an eligible student.

5. (5)

   1. (a) For each eligible student, the state board shall only reimburse an eligible LEA:

      1. (i) if the eligible student attended the eligible LEA for less than a full school year before the eligible student's cohort graduated, up to the value of one weighted pupil unit pro rated based on the difference between:

         1. (A) the number of days of partial pupil in average daily membership earned by the eligible LEA while the eligible student was still in attendance; and
         2. (B) a full pupil in average daily membership; and
      2. (ii) the value of one weighted pupil unit for each full school year the eligible student graduated ahead of the eligible student's cohort.

   2. (b) The state board shall:

      1. (i) use data from the prior year average daily membership to determine the number of eligible students; and
      2. (ii) reimburse the eligible LEA in the current school year.
6. (6) The state board shall, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, adopt rules to administer the provisions of this section.

Amended by Chapter 129, 2021 General Session