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HB396 Professional Development Process: Administrator Step-by-Step Guide

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Date:           5/20/2026

To:               Administrators supervising those eligible for HB396

From:          Katie Ieremia, District Supervisor for Professional Development
                   Teaching & Learning Department

Subject:      HB396 2026-2027

Summary:

Overview: For 2026-27, HB396 will provide funding for 28 hours of paid professional development for qualifying full-time educators and administrators. Each 1.0 FTE educator or building administrator is eligible to participate, at their hourly rate, for work completed outside of contract time. The increase in the number of hours is because people did not submit plans in 2025-26 and there is a carry-over. This may not be the number of hours in the future.

  • Eligible Staff: General & Special Education Teachers, Counselors, School Specialists, Library Technology Teachers, School Psychologists, Speech Pathologists, Audiologists, Building Administrators. Not Eligible: Hourly teachers
  • Requirements:
    • Plans must be submitted by September 30, 2026, on the DISTRICT ONLINE FORM. There is ONE online form for everyone this year. HB396 participants may:
      • Select a university course or endorsement (no supervisor/building administrator approval required), or
      • Propose an Individual Plan (requires ADMINISTRATOR approval)
        • The teacher will enter the administrator’s name and date you approved their plan as part of their submission. There is nothing for you to sign until the timecard after they complete the work.
    • Either choice requires THIS FORM to be submitted.
    • Individual Plans: If an individual is not completing a university/college course or a formal endorsement program, they must have their plan approved by their administrator. Under HB396 (Utah Code §53F‑7‑203), the paid professional hours are not open-ended—they must be focused on improving teaching practice and student outcomes in specific ways defined in statute. Their HB396 hours should focus on: Improving teaching skills, deepening content knowledge, using data to drive instruction, supporting student learning outcomes, and should be aligned with school/district goals.
    • Work can only take place between July 1, 2026, and May 27, 2027.
    • When a participant completes their hours, they complete ONE timecard and activity log. Submit an original card with original signatures (not typed, stamped, etc.) to the district Professional Development Office.
    • May 27, 2027, is the last day for hours to be completed
    • June 10, 2027 @ 5pm is the final deadline for all completed and signed timesheets and activity logs to arrive at the district PD office.
    • Educators will be paid their hourly rate based on Employee Online records based on the date the work was completed.
    • Payments will begin to be processed once the district receives funding from the state (anticipated early 2027).

Rationale: 

The revision and additions to the bill for 2023 are available HERE in HB489. The revisions and additions to the bill for 2024 are available here in SB137. Updates to timelines are also found in Education Reporting Amendments here. The core law governing educator professional hours remained in place and largely unchanged in 2026.

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication
  2. Principals are responsible to help communicate with their staff on the HB396 dates, understand their eligibility, review and sign timecards and activity logs.
  3. Collaboration: 
  4. Contact Katie Ieremia or her secretary, Morgan Crossley, for questions/assistance
  5. Morgan.crossley@slcschools.org or 801-578-8256
  6. Evaluation
  7. Signed and submitted timecard and activity logs prior to deadline of June 10, 2027.

Keywords:

HB396,professional development

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