§ 53F-2-302 — Determination of weighted pupil units.

(1) The number of weighted pupil units in the Minimum School Program for each year is the total of the units for each school district and, subject to Subsection (5), charter school, determined in accordance with this section.
(2) The number of weighted pupil units is computed by adding the average daily membership of all pupils of the LEA attending schools, other than self-contained classes for children with a disability.
(3) (3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), for a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2023, the number of weighted pupil units for kindergarten students shall be computed by adding the average daily membership of all pupils of the LEA enrolled in kindergarten.
(3)(b) The number of weighted pupil units is computed by multiplying the average daily membership for the number of students who are enrolled in kindergarten for less than the equivalent length of the schedule for grades 1 through 3, based on the October 1 data described in Section 53F-2-302, by .55.
(4) (4)(a) The state board shall use prior year plus growth to determine average daily membership in distributing money under the Minimum School Program where the distribution is based on kindergarten through grade 12 ADMs or weighted pupil units.
(4)(b) Under prior year plus growth, kindergarten through grade 12 average daily membership for the current year is based on the actual kindergarten through grade 12 average daily membership for the previous year plus an estimated percentage growth factor.
(4)(c) The growth factor is the percentage increase in total average daily membership on the first school day of October in the current year as compared to the total average daily membership on the first school day of October of the previous year.
(4)(d) If the calculations described in Subsections (4)(a) through (c) show a loss in enrollment for an LEA due to factors beyond the LEA's control, the state board may allow a percentage increase in units for the LEA to account for the loss.
(5) In distributing funds to charter schools under this section, charter school pupils shall be weighted, where applicable, as follows:
(5)(a) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), .9 for pupils in kindergarten through grade 6;
(5)(b) .99 for pupils in grades 7 through 8; and
(5)(c) 1.2 for pupils in grades 9 through 12.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 124, 2024 General Session