DP382 – Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators (SHiNE)

Effective: 8/26/2025

Board Directive

The Jordan School District Board of Education acknowledges that specific subject areas are challenging to staff due to high demand. The Board appreciates the legislature's initiative through the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators (SHiNE) grant program, which aims to enhance the compensation of qualified educators in these critical areas. The Board delegates to the Administration the responsibility to ensure compliance with state law and to:

1. Annually identify the District’s high-needs areas and criteria for educator eligibility, updating the Definitions and Procedures accordingly.
2. Communicate updates to this policy to the District’s educators.
3. Implement this policy and distribute supplemental SHiNE funds to eligible teachers with qualifying assignments in high-needs areas.

II. Administrative Policy

The Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators grant program policy shall be administered according to the following administrative policy provisions:

1. Definitions (UCA 53F-2-504)
  1. An “eligible teacher” means a teacher or educator who:
    1. Has a qualifying assignment, and
    2. Holds a current Utah Educator License in the appropriate area with necessary endorsements, and
    3. Either:
      1. Holds a degree in a subject area related to their qualifying assignment, or
      2. Has a minimum of 10 years of teaching experience in Utah in the qualifying area.
    4. Is either:
      1. A new employee of the District, or
      2. Has not received the lowest rating on any evaluation or professional growth plan in their three most recent evaluations.
  2. The term “high-needs area” means a teaching assignment in a high-needs subject area identified annually.
  3. The term “qualifying assignment” means a teaching assignment in a high-needs area.
2. Funding Process
  The SHiNE grant program, administered by the Utah State Board of Education, will provide funding to the District to enhance the salaries of eligible teachers.
  1. To qualify for the SHiNE salary supplement, educators must submit an application through Skyward Employee Access by the established due date. Qualification criteria may vary annually based on the District’s assessment of high-needs areas.
  2. Each year an educator’s eligibility will be verified, which includes:
    1. A qualifying assignment for the upcoming school year (including semester-long assignments).
    2. Appropriate licensure and endorsements.
    3. A relevant degree or sufficient years of experience.
    4. Adequate evaluation ratings (for educators not new to the District).
  3. Once eligibility has been assessed, the Administrator of Human Resources will certify this list and notify each applicant of their application status.
  4. Payment amounts will be determined annually based on the number of applicants and state legislative allocations.
  5. The Human Resources Department will enter SHiNE stipends into the employee’s Skyward assignments for payroll processing.
  6. Eligible recipients will receive equal allocations, subject to reductions for:
    1. Less than full-time teaching schedules.
    2. Teaching qualifying classes for only a semester.
  7. The Human Resources Department will enter salary supplement amounts into the USBE CACTUS system by the deadline.
  8. This policy will be reviewed annually.
  9. Educators are encouraged to review this policy annually for updates regarding eligibility criteria.
3. Appeal Rights
  1. Educators not deemed eligible may appeal this decision by submitting a written notice to the Administrator of Human Resources within seven (7) calendar days of denial notification. The District will:
    1. Evaluate whether the educator’s assignment closely matches a high-needs area.
    2. Review any new transcripts or documentation submitted to determine eligibility.
    3. Include the educator on the certified list of eligible teachers if the appeal is successful.