POPs four‑year review: Utah Opera, Plan B, NEMA and UMOCA meet evaluation with high student reach

Staff presented the required four‑year review of Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools (POPs), reporting that the four groups evaluated this cycle—NORA Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEMA), Plan B Theater, UMOCA and Utah Opera—met the program criteria in most categories and continue to reach large numbers of students statewide. POPs reported more than 530,000 student service touches last year (counting each distinct engagement) and total legislative funding of roughly $6.12 million; POPs groups reported private matching that exceeded $10 million.

USBE staff described the POPs peer‑review rubric that informs compliance checks (education service plan, annual reports, financial monitoring, peer observations) and noted internal audit and USBE complaint routes if concerns arise. Board members praised outreach activity and asked staff to ensure board members receive invitations to local POPs events in their districts. Staff said POPs programming is widely used in both districts and charters and asked members to direct any complaints to the internal audit form.