53A-17a-158 - Stipends for special educators for additional days of work. - Utah Statutes

53A-17a-158. Stipends for special educators for additional days of work.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "IEP" means an individualized education program developed pursuant to theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as amended.
(b) "Special education teacher" means a teacher whose primary assignment is theinstruction of students with disabilities who are eligible for special education services.
(c) "Special educator" means a person employed by a school district, charter school, orthe Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind who holds:
(i) a license issued under Title 53A, Chapter 6, Educator Licensing and ProfessionalPractices Act; and
(ii) a position as a:
(A) special education teacher; or
(B) speech-language pathologist.
(2) The Legislature shall annually appropriate money for stipends to special educators foradditional days of work:
(a) in recognition of the added duties and responsibilities assumed by special educatorsto comply with federal law regulating the education of students with disabilities and the need toattract and retain qualified special educators; and
(b) subject to future budget constraints.
(3) (a) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated under thissection to school districts, charter schools, and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind forstipends for special educators in the amount of $200 per day for up to 10 additional workingdays.
(b) Money distributed under this section shall include, in addition to the $200 per daystipend, money for the following employer-paid benefits:
(i) retirement;
(ii) workers' compensation;
(iii) Social Security; and
(iv) Medicare.
(4) A special educator receiving a stipend shall:
(a) work an additional day beyond the number of days contracted with the specialeducator's school district or school for each daily stipend;
(b) schedule the additional days of work before or after the school year; and
(c) use the additional days of work to perform duties related to the IEP process,including:
(i) administering student assessments;
(ii) conducting IEP meetings;
(iii) writing IEPs;
(iv) conferring with parents; and
(v) maintaining records and preparing reports.
(5) A special educator may:
(a) elect to receive a stipend for one to 10 days of additional work; or
(b) elect to not receive a stipend.
(6) A person who does not hold a full-time position as a special educator is eligible for apartial stipend equal to the percentage of a full-time special educator position the person

assumes.

Enacted by Chapter 397, 2008 General Session