First Substitute 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 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 revising 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
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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) Local school boards shall design their school programs, that are supported by
55 generally accepted scientific standards of evidence, to focus on the core curriculum standards
56 with the expectation that each program will enhance or help achieve mastery of the core
57 curriculum standards.
58 (5) Except as provided in Section 53A-13-101 , each school may select instructional
59 materials and methods of teaching, that are supported by generally accepted scientific standards
60 of evidence, that it considers most appropriate to meet core curriculum standards.
61 (6) The state may exit any agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or
62 consortium that cedes control of Utah's core curriculum standards to any other entity, including
63 a federal agency or consortium, for any reason, including:
64 (a) the cost of developing or implementing core curriculum standards;
65 (b) the proposed core curriculum standards are inconsistent with community values; or
66 (c) the agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or consortium:
67 (i) was entered into in violation of Part 9, Implementing Federal Programs Act, or Title
68 63J, Chapter 5, Federal Funds Procedures Act;
69 (ii) conflicts with Utah law;
70 (iii) requires Utah student data to be included in a national or multi-state database;
71 (iv) requires records of teacher performance to be included in a national or multi-state
72 database; or
73 (v) imposes curriculum, assessment, or data tracking requirements on home school or
74 private school students.
75 (7) The State Board of Education shall annually report to the Education Interim
76 Committee on the development and implementation of core curriculum standards, including
77 the recommendations of a standards review committee established under Section 53A-1-402.8 .
78 Section 2. Section 53A-1-402.8 is enacted to read:
79 53A-1-402.8. Standards review committee.
80 (1) As used in this section, "board" means the State Board of Education.
81 (2) Subject to Subsection (3), the State Board of Education shall establish:
82 (a) a time line for the review by a standards review committee of core curriculum
83 standards for:
84 (i) English language arts;
85 (ii) mathematics;
86 (iii) science;
87 (iv) social studies;
88 (v) fine arts;
89 (vi) physical education and health; and
90 (vii) early childhood education; and
91 (b) a standards review committee for each curriculum area specified in Subsection
92 (2)(a) to review, and recommend revisions to, core curriculum standards.
93 (3) On or before July 1, 2014, the board shall establish a standards review committee to
94 review, and recommend revisions to, the core curriculum standards for mathematics.
95 (4) The membership of a standards review committee consists of:
96 (a) 10 individuals, with expertise in the subject being reviewed, appointed by the board
97 chair, including teachers, business representatives, faculty of higher education institutions in
98 Utah, and others as determined by the board chair;
99 (b) 7 parents or guardians of public education students appointed by the speaker of the
100 House of Representatives; and
101 (c) 7 parents or guardians of public education students appointed by the president of
102 the Senate.
103 (5) The board shall provide staff support to the standards review committee.
104 (6) A member of the standards review committee may not receive compensation or
105 benefits for the member's service on the committee.
106 (7) Among the criteria a standards review committee shall consider when reviewing
107 core curriculum standards are:
108 (a) preparing a student for college level work without remediation; and
109 (b) giving students an adequate foundation to pursue a career.
110 (8) A standards review committee shall submit, to the board, comments and
111 recommendations for revision of core curriculum standards.
112 (9) The board shall take into consideration the comments and recommendations of a
113 standards review committee in revising core curriculum standards.
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