Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection 53F-4-514(2), and notwithstanding Subsections 53F-4-509(2) and (3), the state board shall:

1. (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. (2) after the funds described in Subsection (1) have been expended, make a deduction as described in Subsection 53F-4-507(3);

3. (3) establish a prioritized funding distribution system that evaluates and ranks schools based on:

   1. (a) the school's demonstrated inability to provide courses, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Concurrent Enrollment due to:

      1. (i) insufficient student enrollment to justify full course sections;
      2. (ii) geographic isolation from qualified instructors;
      3. (iii) limited staff capacity to teach courses; or
      4. (iv) financial constraints in hiring qualified instructors; and
   2. (b) the school's current access to college and career readiness programming;

4. (4) develop an annual assessment process to:

   1. (a) identify schools with the highest demonstrated need based on the criteria in Subsection (3); and
   2. (b) adjust funding priorities based on program outcomes;

5. (5) establish reporting requirements for recipient schools to:

   1. (a) document the use of allocated funds;
   2. (b) track student participation in online courses;
   3. (c) measure student achievement in funded courses; and
   4. (d) demonstrate ongoing need for continued funding; and

6. (6) at the request of the Education Interim Committee, submit a report that includes:

   1. (a) a list of schools receiving prioritized funding;
   2. (b) the basis for funding prioritization;
   3. (c) student participation and achievement data; and
   4. (d) recommendations for program improvement.

Amended by Chapter 534, 2025 General Session