H.B. 342
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the powers and duties of the State Board of Education regarding the
11 development and adoption of core curriculum standards.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . specifies procedures for the development and adoption of core curriculum standards
15 for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, including:
16 . the establishment of a standards development committee consisting of parents,
17 teachers, and representatives of school districts, business, and higher education
18 to assist the board in developing standards; and
19 . public review and comment of draft core curriculum standards;
20 . requires the State Board of Education to establish a standards review committee
21 consisting of 15 parents of Utah public education students to review proposed core
22 curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social
23 studies;
24 . requires the State Board of Education to maintain control of, and the power to
25 modify, core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics, science,
26 and social studies; and
27 . requires the State Board of Education, on or before July 1, 2016, to adopt revised
28 core curriculum standards for English language arts and mathematics that are developed
29 specifically for Utah.
30 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
31 None
32 Other Special Clauses:
33 None
34 Utah Code Sections Affected:
35 ENACTS:
36 53A-1-402.8 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
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38 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
39 Section 1. Section 53A-1-402.8 is enacted to read:
40 53A-1-402.8. Core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics,
41 science, and social studies.
42 (1) As used in this section, "board" means the State Board of Education.
43 (2) The board shall develop and adopt core curriculum standards for English language
44 arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in accordance with Section 53A-1-402.6 and this
45 section.
46 (3) The board shall develop and adopt core curriculum standards for English language
47 arts, mathematics, and science that are aligned with the standards of states and nations whose
48 students are among the most proficient on national and international achievement tests.
49 (4) (a) The board may adopt an academic standard of another state or nation if the
50 board determines that the standard is aligned with the basic knowledge, skills, and
51 competencies a student is expected to acquire or master as the student advances through the
52 public education system.
53 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(a), the board may not adopt, in whole, a set of
54 standards for English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies developed for a
55 group of states or the nation as Utah's core curriculum standards.
56 (5) The board shall maintain control of, and the power to modify, core curriculum
57 standards for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
58 (6) (a) The board shall establish a standards development committee to assist the board
59 in developing core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics, science, and
60 social studies.
61 (b) The board shall appoint to a standards development committee established under
62 Subsection (6)(a) individuals with expertise in the subject for which standards are being
63 developed, including parents, teachers, school leaders, school district representatives, business
64 representatives, and faculty of higher education institutions in Utah.
65 (c) A standards development committee established under Subsection (6)(a) shall:
66 (i) hold meetings that are open to the public;
67 (ii) receive public comment; and
68 (iii) submit recommendations on core curriculum standards for adoption by the board.
69 (7) (a) The board shall establish a standards review committee consisting of 15 parents
70 of Utah public education students to review proposed core curriculum standards for English
71 language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
72 (b) The membership of the standards review committee includes:
73 (i) five parents appointed by the board chair;
74 (ii) five parents appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
75 (iii) five parents appointed by the president of the Senate.
76 (c) The board shall provide staff support to the standards review committee.
77 (d) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(e), the term of office of each member
78 appointed to the standards review committee is four years.
79 (e) The board chair, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president of
80 the Senate shall adjust the length of terms to stagger the terms of standards review committee
81 members so that approximately one-half of the committee members are appointed every two
82 years.
83 (f) No member of the standards review committee may receive compensation or
84 benefits for the member's service on the committee.
85 (g) The standards review committee shall submit comments and recommendations to
86 the board on proposed core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics,
87 science, and social studies.
88 (8) Before adopting core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics,
89 science, and social studies, the board shall:
90 (a) publicize draft core curriculum standards on the State Board of Education's website
91 and the Utah Public Notice website created under Section 63F-1-701 ;
92 (b) invite public comment on the draft core curriculum standards for a period of not
93 less than 90 days; and
94 (c) conduct three public hearings that are held in different regions of the state on the
95 draft core curriculum standards.
96 (9) Taking into consideration the public comment and the comments and
97 recommendations of the standards review committee, the board may:
98 (a) adopt draft core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics,
99 science, and social studies as final standards; or
100 (b) modify draft core curriculum standards for English language arts, mathematics,
101 science, and social studies and adopt the modified standards as final standards.
102 (10) On or before July 1, 2016, the board shall adopt revised core curriculum standards
103 for English language arts and mathematics that are developed specifically for Utah.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-12-14 6:09 AM