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Created: 5 June 2024
Modified: 30 April 2025
Adopted: 14 October 2025

DFE- Highly Needed Educator Salary Supplement 

Definitions 

In this policy: 

1. “High-needs area” means a teaching assignment that has been designated by the the District as challenging 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 must meet the following: 

1. Is assigned to one or more of the high-needs areas designated by the district leadership for the school year or that the teacher’s assignment is substantially equivalent to a designated high-needs area; 

2. 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 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) 

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. The supplement amount teachers receive will be pro-rated according to the number of class sections taught in a designated high-needs area. 

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)

Education Support Professional Request to Volunteer in Extra Duty Assignment 

Name:____________________________ 

I work hourly for the ___________ School District as _________________________. 

I would like to volunteer my services with the __________________ team/club activity. 

I would like to volunteer as ________________________. 

I affirm that the duties I perform in my job with the District are not related to the duties I would perform in my volunteer position. 

I understand the following: should my volunteer coaching duties require me to be gone during my regularly scheduled ESP workday, I will be required to use any accrued personal leave (for leave eligible ESP positions). When all personal leave is exhausted, or in the case of. Non-leave eligible ESP, I understand that any additional personal leave needed will be “leave without pay.” 

I understand that as a volunteer, I will not receive wages or a salary for the services I volunteer. 

I understand the District may reimburse me for expenses actually and reasonable incurred, provide me with a per diem to cover expenses, and/or provide me with a nominal stipend for my volunteer services, but I acknowledge and agree that this stipend in no way is the equivalent of an hourly wage or a salary for the hours I volunteer. I further understand the amount of the stipend is not dependent upon the outcome of the team’s season/club’s events. 

I acknowledge and affirm that I have not been required to volunteer as a condition of my employment, that no pressure has been brought to bear against me by anyone at the District, that no threats have been made against my hourly job with the District if I failed to volunteer, that I am free to relinquish my role as a volunteer without fear that doing so will have any impact on my hourly job with the District and that no promises have been made to me that I would receive better treatment, promotions, or anything else to do with my hourly job at the District if I do volunteer. 

These are my reasons for wanting to volunteer: 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

________________________ ___________________ 

Employee Signature Date 

(Signature of Employee Requesting to Volunteer)