§ 53H-11-409 — Terrel H. Bell Education Scholarship Program.

(1) As used in this section:
(1)(a) "Approved program" means a program that:
(1)(a)(i) is a teacher preparation program that:
(1)(a)(i)(A) meets the standards described in Section 53E-6-302; and
(1)(a)(i)(B) provides enhanced clinical experiences; or
(1)(a)(ii) prepares an individual to become:
(1)(a)(ii)(A) a speech-language pathologist; or
(1)(a)(ii)(B) another licensed professional providing services in a public school to students with disabilities.
(1)(b) "Eligible institution" means an institution that offers an approved program and is:
(1)(b)(i) an institution; or
(1)(b)(ii) a private postsecondary educational institution.
(1)(c) "High needs area" means a subject area or field in public education that has a high need for teachers or other employees, as determined in accordance with Subsections (6) and (7).
(1)(d) "Scholarship" means a scholarship described in this section.
(2) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually appropriate money to the board for the Terrel H. Bell Education Scholarship Program to be distributed to eligible institutions to award scholarships to incentivize students to work in public education in Utah.
(3) (3)(a) Subject to the prioritization described in Subsection (3)(b), an eligible institution may award a scholarship to an individual who:
(3)(a)(i) meets the academic standards described in Subsection (6);
(3)(a)(ii) is enrolled in at least six credit hours at the eligible institution;
(3)(a)(iii) declares an intent to:
(3)(a)(iii)(A) apply to and complete an approved program at the eligible institution; and
(3)(a)(iii)(B) work in a Utah public school; and
(3)(a)(iv) demonstrates, in accordance with rules described in Subsection (6)(b), the completion of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
(3)(b) An eligible institution shall prioritize awarding of scholarships:
(3)(b)(i) first, to first generation students who intend to work in any area in a Utah public school;
(3)(b)(ii) second, to students who:
(3)(b)(ii)(A) are not first generation students; and
(3)(b)(ii)(B) intend to work in a high needs area in a Utah public school; and
(3)(b)(iii) last, to other students who meet the requirements described in Subsection (3)(a).
(4) (4)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), an eligible institution may award a scholarship to an individual for an amount up to the cost of resident tuition, fees, and books for the number of credit hours in which the individual is enrolled each semester.
(4)(b) An eligible institution that is a private postsecondary educational institution may not award a scholarship for an amount of money that exceeds the average scholarship amount granted by an institution.
(5) (5)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), an eligible institution may award a scholarship to an individual for up to four consecutive years.
(5)(b) An eligible institution may grant a scholarship recipient a leave of absence.
(5)(c) An eligible institution may cancel a scholarship if:
(5)(c)(i) the scholarship recipient fails to make reasonable progress toward completion of the approved program, as determined by the eligible institution; or
(5)(c)(ii) the eligible institution determines with reasonable certainty that the scholarship recipient does not intend to work in a Utah public school.
(6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the board shall make rules:
(6)(a) that establish:
(6)(a)(i) requirements related to an eligible institution's administration of a scholarship;
(6)(a)(ii) a process for an individual to apply to an eligible institution to receive a scholarship;
(6)(a)(iii) in accordance with Subsection (3)(a), requirements related to eligibility for a scholarship, including required academic standards;
(6)(a)(iv) in accordance with Subsection (3)(b), requirements related to prioritization of scholarships, including determination of:
(6)(a)(iv)(A) whether a student is a first generation student; and
(6)(a)(iv)(B) high needs areas; and
(6)(a)(v) criteria to determine whether an individual intends to work in a Utah public school; and
(6)(b) regarding the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in Subsection (3)(a)(iv), including:
(6)(b)(i) provisions for students or parents to opt out of the requirement due to:
(6)(b)(i)(A) financial ineligibility for any potential grant or other financial aid;
(6)(b)(i)(B) personal privacy concerns; or
(6)(b)(i)(C) other reasons the board specifies; and
(6)(b)(ii) direction for applicants to financial aid advisors.
(7) The board shall consult with the State Board of Education to determine:
(7)(a) whether a teacher preparation program provides enhanced clinical experiences; and
(7)(b) which subject areas and fields are high needs areas.
(8) The board may use up to 5% of money appropriated for the purposes described in this section to promote the scholarships described in this section.

Legislative History

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 8, 2025 Special Session 1