Created:  5 June 2024
Modified:  30 April 2025
Approved: 11 March 2025

Highly Needed Educator Salary Supplement

Definitions—

In this policy:

1. “High-needs area” means a teaching assignment that has been designated by the Board of Education as challenging for the District to fill or to retain educators in. The District’s high-needs areas for the current school year and the amount of supplement for each area are as listed in Exhibit A of this Policy.
2. “Qualifying assignment” means an assignment to a high-needs area or which is substantially equivalent to such an assignment.
3. “Eligible teacher” means a teacher who has a qualifying assignment, has satisfied the requirements of this Policy to demonstrate assignment to a high-needs area and a qualifying teaching background, and is either a new employee of the District or has not received any unsatisfactory ratings on the teacher’s three most recent evaluations.

Utah Code § 53F-2-504(1) (2025)

Determining Eligibility for Salary Supplement—

To demonstrate eligibility for the salary supplement, the teacher shall submit documentation showing that the teacher:

1. Is assigned to one or more of the high-needs areas designated by the Board of Education for the school year or that the teacher’s assignment is substantially equivalent to a designated high-needs area;
2. Has a qualifying teaching background for the high-needs area, as shown by education transcripts or other documentation; and
3. Is either a new employee of the District or has not had any unsatisfactory ratings on the teacher’s three most recent evaluations.

Utah Code § 53F-2-504(1)(a), (2)(a)(iii)(B) (2025)

The documentation must be submitted by _November 1st, 2025. The Superintendent or designee shall review the documentation provided by the teacher seeking the salary supplement and determine if the requirements have been satisfied, including verifying the teacher’s teaching background. The Superintendent or designee shall promptly inform the teacher of the determination. Once all timely requests have been evaluated, the Superintendent or designee shall certify a list of the teachers who are eligible for the salary supplement.

Utah Code § 53F-2-504(2)(a)(iv), (v) (2025)

Appeal of Application Denial—

A teacher whose application for the salary supplement has been denied may appeal that determination to the Board of Education. The appeal shall be in writing and submitted within 30 days of the notice that the application has been denied. The appeal shall explain why the teacher asserts the denial was incorrect (including as applicable why the teacher’s assignment is substantially equivalent to a high-needs area) and shall include any appropriate supporting documentation. The Board of Education shall evaluate the appeal in a closed meeting of the Board and determine if the denial was erroneous and notify the teacher and administration of the determination and the grounds for the determination.

Utah Code § 53F-2-504(2)(a)(iii) (2025)

Nature of the Salary Supplement—

The salary supplement is considered part of the teacher’s base pay, subject to the teacher’s continuing qualification as an eligible teacher each year, semester, or quarter (as applicable). The amount of the supplement the teacher receives shall be the amount of the supplement established by the Board of Education plus the amount of any employer-paid benefits that the teacher would be entitled to for a corresponding increase in salary.

Utah Code § 53F-2-504(4), (5) (2025)

Increase in Amount of the Salary Supplement—

The Board of Education may increase the amount of funds that are provided through the salary supplement if it first ensures the proper distribution to the District’s teachers of funds the District receives under the program and also experiences a carry forward or leftover balance.

Utah Code § 53F-2-504(7) (2025)

Exhibit A

High-Needs Areas and Salary Supplement Amounts

A. Designation of High-Needs Areas

For the purposes of administering the Highly Needed Educators Salary Supplement Program pursuant to Utah Code § 53F-2-504, the Board of Education has determined that the District experiences difficulty recruiting and retaining educators across all certified teaching assignments.

Accordingly, the Board designates all certified teaching assignments within the District as high-needs areas for the current school year.

This designation applies to:

• All licensed teachers employed by the District;
• All certified educators serving in instructional assignments requiring a Utah educator license; and
• All substantially equivalent certified assignments as determined by the Superintendent or designee.

B. Salary Supplement Amount

For the current 2025 - 2026 school year, the salary supplement amount for each designated high-needs area shall be:

$_2,762.20 per eligible certified educator, plus the associated employer-paid benefits that would apply to a corresponding increase in salary.

The salary supplement amount shall be:

• Uniform for all eligible certified educators, and
• Distributed equitably, consistent with available program funds and statutory requirements.

C. Annual Review and Update

This Exhibit A shall be:

• Reviewed annually by the Board of Education;
• Updated as necessary to reflect available funding, staffing needs, and program requirements; and
• Provided to all certified educators as notice of the District’s designation of high-needs areas and associated supplement amounts.

D. Purpose and Rationale

The Board of Education adopts this designation to:

• Support recruitment and retention of certified educators;
• Promote fairness, transparency, and staff morale;
• Recognize the essential role of all certified educators in fulfilling the District’s educational mission; and
• Ensure compliance with Utah Code § 53F-2-504 while addressing local workforce realities.