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SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday to create a pilot program that would allow Utah teachers to teach year-round instead of being unemployed each summer.
Schools and teachers that choose to participate in the pilot program outlined in SB285 would operate on three semesters instead of two. Students would be able to choose which two semesters they would like to attend school.
The bill also proposes to increase salaries for teachers in participating schools by 50 percent because they would be working 50 percent more of the time. But the change would save the state money on teachers' health insurance benefits, which are paid even when the teacher isn't working, according to bill sponsor Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.
Stephenson said constituents have expressed their support for a program allowing parents and students the ability to choose when to enroll.
"I believe that if we were able to start this in Utah, that we would actually have a race to the top, that both teachers and parents of students would want to sign their kids up," Stephenson said.
The $250,000 pilot program is supported by the governor in his budget proposal for education.
Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs, said the bill would engage students throughout the year as well as improve how educators are compensated.
"It's wonderful that we can actually pay a teacher for a whole year's salary," Madsen said. "This works in a lot of ways."
The bill unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee and will now go before the full Senate. Email: mjacobsen@deseretnews.com Twitter: MorganEJacobsen
