H.B. 342 Enrolled

1

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF
2 EDUCATION
3 2014 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Dana L. Layton
6 Senate Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the powers and duties of the State Board of Education related to the
11 development and adoption of core curriculum standards.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . requires the State Board of Education to establish:
15 . a time line for the review of core curriculum standards in certain curriculum
16 areas by a standards review committee; and
17 . a standards review committee to review, and recommend revisions to, core
18 curriculum standards;
19 . specifies the membership of a standards review committee; and
20 . directs the State Board of Education to take into consideration the comments and
21 recommendations of a standards review committee in adopting core curriculum
22 standards.
23 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:
28 AMENDS:
29 53A-1-402.6 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 106

30 ENACTS:
31 53A-1-402.8 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 53A-1-402.6 is amended to read:
35 53A-1-402.6. Core curriculum standards.
36 (1) In establishing minimum standards related to curriculum and instruction
37 requirements under Section 53A-1-402 , the State Board of Education shall, in consultation
38 with local school boards, school superintendents, teachers, employers, and parents implement
39 core curriculum standards which will enable students to, among other objectives:
40 (a) communicate effectively, both verbally and through written communication;
41 (b) apply mathematics; and
42 (c) access, analyze, and apply information.
43 (2) The board shall:
44 (a) identify the basic knowledge, skills, and competencies each student is expected to
45 acquire or master as the student advances through the public education system; and
46 (b) align the core curriculum standards and tests administered under the Utah
47 Performance Assessment System for Students (U-PASS) with each other.
48 (3) The basic knowledge, skills, and competencies identified pursuant to Subsection
49 (2)(a) shall increase in depth and complexity from year to year and focus on consistent and
50 continual progress within and between grade levels and courses in the core academic areas of:
51 (a) English, including explicit phonics, spelling, grammar, reading, writing,
52 vocabulary, speech, and listening; and
53 (b) mathematics, including basic computational skills.
54 (4) Before adopting core curriculum standards, the State Board of Education shall:
55 (a) publicize draft core curriculum standards on the State Board of Education's website
56 and the Utah Public Notice website created under Section 63F-1-701 ;
57 (b) invite public comment on the draft core curriculum standards for a period of not

58 less than 90 days; and
59 (c) conduct three public hearings that are held in different regions of the state on the
60 draft core curriculum standards.
61 [(4)] (5) Local school boards shall design their school programs, that are supported by
62 generally accepted scientific standards of evidence, to focus on the core curriculum standards
63 with the expectation that each program will enhance or help achieve mastery of the core
64 curriculum standards.
65 [(5)] (6) Except as provided in Section 53A-13-101 , each school may select
66 instructional materials and methods of teaching, that are supported by generally accepted
67 scientific standards of evidence, that it considers most appropriate to meet core curriculum
68 standards.
69 [(6)] (7) The state may exit any agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or
70 consortium that cedes control of Utah's core curriculum standards to any other entity, including
71 a federal agency or consortium, for any reason, including:
72 (a) the cost of developing or implementing core curriculum standards;
73 (b) the proposed core curriculum standards are inconsistent with community values; or
74 (c) the agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or consortium:
75 (i) was entered into in violation of Part 9, Implementing Federal Programs Act, or Title
76 63J, Chapter 5, Federal Funds Procedures Act;
77 (ii) conflicts with Utah law;
78 (iii) requires Utah student data to be included in a national or multi-state database;
79 (iv) requires records of teacher performance to be included in a national or multi-state
80 database; or
81 (v) imposes curriculum, assessment, or data tracking requirements on home school or
82 private school students.
83 [(7)] (8) The State Board of Education shall annually report to the Education Interim
84 Committee on the development and implementation of core curriculum standards, including
85 the time line established for the review of core curriculum standards by a standards review

86 committee and the recommendations of a standards review committee established under
87 Section 53A-1-402.8 .
88 Section 2. Section 53A-1-402.8 is enacted to read:
89 53A-1-402.8. Standards review committee.
90 (1) As used in this section, "board" means the State Board of Education.
91 (2) Subject to Subsection (5), the State Board of Education shall establish:
92 (a) a time line for the review by a standards review committee of core curriculum
93 standards for:
94 (i) English language arts;
95 (ii) mathematics;
96 (iii) science;
97 (iv) social studies;
98 (v) fine arts;
99 (vi) physical education and health; and
100 (vii) early childhood education; and
101 (b) a separate standards review committee for each subject area specified in Subsection
102 (2)(a) to review, and recommend to the board revisions to, core curriculum standards.
103 (3) At least one year before the board takes formal action to adopt new core curriculum
104 standards, the board shall establish a standards review committee as required by Subsection
105 (2)(b).
106 (4) A standards review committee shall meet at least twice during the time period
107 described in Subsection (3).
108 (5) In establishing a time line for the review of core curriculum standards by a
109 standards review committee, the board shall give priority to establishing a standards review
110 committee to review, and recommend revisions to, the core curriculum standards for
111 mathematics.
112 (6) The membership of a standards review committee consists of:
113 (a) seven individuals, with expertise in the subject being reviewed, appointed by the

114 board chair, including teachers, business representatives, faculty of higher education
115 institutions in Utah, and others as determined by the board chair;
116 (b) five parents or guardians of public education students appointed by the speaker of
117 the House of Representatives; and
118 (c) five parents or guardians of public education students appointed by the president of
119 the Senate.
120 (7) The board shall provide staff support to the standards review committee.
121 (8) A member of the standards review committee may not receive compensation or
122 benefits for the member's service on the committee.
123 (9) Among the criteria a standards review committee shall consider when reviewing
124 core curriculum standards is giving students an adequate foundation to successfully pursue
125 college, technical education, a career, or other life pursuits.
126 (10) A standards review committee shall submit, to the board, comments and
127 recommendations for revision of core curriculum standards.
128 (11) The board shall take into consideration the comments and recommendations of a
129 standards review committee in adopting core curriculum standards.
130 (12) (a) Nothing in this section prohibits the board from amending or adding individual
131 core curriculum standards as the need arises in the board's ongoing responsibilities.
132 (b) If the board makes changes as described in Subsection (12)(a), the board shall
133 include the changes in the annual report the board submits to the Education Interim Committee
134 under Section 53A-1-402.6 .