S.B. 122

             1     

PARENTAL RIGHTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC

             2     
EDUCATION

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Aaron Osmond

             6     
House Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill addresses certain rights and obligations of a parent or guardian of a student
             11      enrolled in a public school.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    specifies certain rights and obligations of a parent or guardian of a student enrolled
             15      in a public school; and
             16          .    requires a school district, charter school, or the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the
             17      Blind to:
             18              .    annually notify a student's parent or guardian of certain rights and obligations;
             19      and
             20              .    request that the parent or guardian sign and return a document acknowledging
             21      having received and read the notification.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      ENACTS:


             28           53A-11-1501 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29           53A-15-1502 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30           53A-15-1503 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31           53A-15-1504 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 53A-11-1501 is enacted to read:
             35     
Part 15. Parental Rights and Obligations

             36          53A-11-1501. Definitions.
             37          As used in this part:
             38          (1) "Individualized education program" or "IEP" means:
             39          (a) for a student with a disability, a written statement that is developed, reviewed, and
             40      revised in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec.
             41      1400 et seq.; or
             42          (b) an individualized family service plan developed:
             43          (i) for a child with a disability who is younger than three years of age; and
             44          (ii) in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec.
             45      1400 et seq.
             46          (2) "LEA" means a school district, charter school, or the Utah Schools for the Deaf and
             47      the Blind.
             48          (3) "Reasonably accommodate" means an LEA shall make its best effort to allow a
             49      parent or guardian to exercise a parental right specified in Section 53A-15-1503 :
             50          (a) without substantial impact to staff and resources; and
             51          (b) while balancing:
             52          (i) the parental rights of parents or guardians; and
             53          (ii) the educational needs of students.
             54          Section 2. Section 53A-15-1502 is enacted to read:
             55          53A-15-1502. Annual notice and acknowledgment of parental rights and
             56      obligations.
             57          An LEA shall:
             58          (1) annually notify a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the LEA of the parent's


             59      or guardian's rights and obligations as specified in this part when using public education; and
             60          (2) (a) request a parent or guardian to sign and return a document acknowledging
             61      having received and read the notification provided under Subsection (1);
             62          (b) make a reasonable effort to secure an acknowledgment from a parent or guardian;
             63      and
             64          (c) maintain an acknowledgment on file.
             65          Section 3. Section 53A-15-1503 is enacted to read:
             66          53A-15-1503. Parental rights.
             67          (1) (a) An LEA shall comply with a parent's or guardian's request to retain a student on
             68      grade level based on the student's social, emotional, or physical maturity.
             69          (b) With written consent of a parent or guardian, an LEA may administer an
             70      assessment to a student to attain information relevant to determining whether the student
             71      should be retained.
             72          (2) An LEA shall reasonably accommodate a parent's or guardian's initial selection of a
             73      teacher or request for a change of teacher.
             74          (3) An LEA shall reasonably accommodate the request of a student's parent or guardian
             75      to visit and observe any class the student attends.
             76          (4) An LEA shall excuse a student from attendance for a family vacation, family
             77      emergency, or visit to a physician if the student completes all assignments and takes all
             78      assessments.
             79          (5) An LEA shall reasonably accommodate a parent's or guardian's determination of
             80      the level of rigor of a class or subject that a student is ready or able to experience.
             81          (6) An LEA shall allow a student to earn course credit towards high school graduation
             82      without completing a course in school by:
             83          (a) testing out of the course; or
             84          (b) demonstrating competency in course standards.
             85          (7) An LEA shall reasonably accommodate a parent's or guardian's request to meet
             86      with a teacher if the parent or guardian is unable to attend a regularly scheduled parent teacher
             87      conference.
             88          (8) The parent or guardian of a student who receives special education services is a
             89      member of the student's IEP team and, as a team member, participates in the development of


             90      the student's individualized education program.
             91          (9) (a) An LEA shall provide for the distribution of a copy of a school's discipline and
             92      conduct policy to each student in accordance with Section 53A-11-903 .
             93          (b) An LEA shall notify a parent or guardian of a student's violation of a school's
             94      discipline and conduct policy and allow a parent or guardian to respond to the notice in
             95      accordance with Chapter 11, Part 9, School Discipline and Conduct Plans.
             96          Section 4. Section 53A-15-1504 is enacted to read:
             97          53A-15-1504. Parental obligations.
             98          (1) A child's parent or guardian is the primary person responsible for the education of
             99      the child, and the state is in a secondary and supportive role to the parent or guardian.
             100          (2) Classroom discipline is critical to academic success, and a parent or guardian shall
             101      support a teacher and administrator when imposing appropriate classroom discipline.
             102          (3) (a) The parent or guardian of an elementary school student performing below grade
             103      level or assessed as not proficient in a subject shall:
             104          (i) attend all scheduled parent teacher conferences during a school year; or
             105          (ii) meet with the student's teacher at another time.
             106          (b) The parent or guardian of a secondary school student earning a "C" or lower grade
             107      in a course shall:
             108          (i) attend all parent teacher conferences scheduled with the teacher of the course in
             109      which the student is earning a "C" or lower grade; or
             110          (ii) meet with the student's teacher at another time.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-13-14 12:12 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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