(1) There is created the Competency-Based Education Grants Program consisting of the grants created in this part to improve educational outcomes in public schools by advancing student mastery of concepts and skills through the following core principles: (a) student advancement upon mastery of a concept or skill; (b) competencies that include explicit, measurable, and transferable learning objectives that empower a student; (c) assessment that is meaningful and provides a positive learning experience for a student; (d) timely, differentiated support based on a student's individual learning needs; and (e) learning outcomes that emphasize competencies that include application and creation of knowledge along with the development of important skills and dispositions.

(a) student advancement upon mastery of a concept or skill;

(b) competencies that include explicit, measurable, and transferable learning objectives that empower a student;

(c) assessment that is meaningful and provides a positive learning experience for a student;

(d) timely, differentiated support based on a student's individual learning needs; and

(e) learning outcomes that emphasize competencies that include application and creation of knowledge along with the development of important skills and dispositions.

(2) The grant program shall incentivize an LEA to establish competency-based education within the LEA through the use of: (a) personalized learning; (b) blended learning; (c) extended learning; (d) educator professional learning in competency-based education; or (e) any other method that emphasizes the core principles described in Subsection (1).

(a) personalized learning;

(b) blended learning;

(c) extended learning;

(d) educator professional learning in competency-based education; or

(e) any other method that emphasizes the core principles described in Subsection (1).

(3) The state board shall: (a) adopt rules: (i) for the administration of the grant program and awarding of grants; and (ii) to define outcome-based measures appropriate to the type of grant for an LEA that is awarded a grant under this part to use to measure the performance of the LEA's plan or program; (b) establish a grant application process; (c) in accordance with Subsection (4), establish a review committee to make recommendations to the state board for: (i) metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application; and (ii) approval of a grant application; and (d) with input from the review committee, adopt metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application.

(a) adopt rules: (i) for the administration of the grant program and awarding of grants; and (ii) to define outcome-based measures appropriate to the type of grant for an LEA that is awarded a grant under this part to use to measure the performance of the LEA's plan or program;

(i) for the administration of the grant program and awarding of grants; and

(ii) to define outcome-based measures appropriate to the type of grant for an LEA that is awarded a grant under this part to use to measure the performance of the LEA's plan or program;

(b) establish a grant application process;

(c) in accordance with Subsection (4), establish a review committee to make recommendations to the state board for: (i) metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application; and (ii) approval of a grant application; and

(i) metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application; and

(ii) approval of a grant application; and

(d) with input from the review committee, adopt metrics to analyze the quality of a grant application.

(4) (a) The review committee shall consist of STEM and blended learning experts, current and former school administrators, current and former teachers, and at least one former school district superintendent, in addition to other staff designated by the state board. (b) The review committee shall: (i) review a grant application submitted by an LEA; (ii) make recommendations to the LEA to modify the application, if necessary; and (iii) make recommendations to the state board regarding the final disposition of an application.

(a) The review committee shall consist of STEM and blended learning experts, current and former school administrators, current and former teachers, and at least one former school district superintendent, in addition to other staff designated by the state board.

(b) The review committee shall: (i) review a grant application submitted by an LEA; (ii) make recommendations to the LEA to modify the application, if necessary; and (iii) make recommendations to the state board regarding the final disposition of an application.

(i) review a grant application submitted by an LEA;

(ii) make recommendations to the LEA to modify the application, if necessary; and

(iii) make recommendations to the state board regarding the final disposition of an application.

(5) (a) The state board shall provide technical assistance training to assist an LEA with a grant application under this part. (b) An LEA may not apply for a grant under this part unless: (i) a representative of the LEA attends the technical assistance training before the LEA submits a grant application; and (ii) the representative is a superintendent, principal, or a person in a leadership position within the LEA. (c) The technical assistance training shall include: (i) instructions on completing a grant application, including grant application requirements; (ii) information on the scoring metrics used to review a grant application; and (iii) information on competency-based education.

(a) The state board shall provide technical assistance training to assist an LEA with a grant application under this part.

(b) An LEA may not apply for a grant under this part unless: (i) a representative of the LEA attends the technical assistance training before the LEA submits a grant application; and (ii) the representative is a superintendent, principal, or a person in a leadership position within the LEA.

(i) a representative of the LEA attends the technical assistance training before the LEA submits a grant application; and

(ii) the representative is a superintendent, principal, or a person in a leadership position within the LEA.

(c) The technical assistance training shall include: (i) instructions on completing a grant application, including grant application requirements; (ii) information on the scoring metrics used to review a grant application; and (iii) information on competency-based education.

(i) instructions on completing a grant application, including grant application requirements;

(ii) information on the scoring metrics used to review a grant application; and

(iii) information on competency-based education.

(6) The state board may use up to 5% of an appropriation provided to fund this part for administration of the grant program.