MINUTES OF THE
EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 • 8:30 a.m. • 445 State Capitol


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Rep. V. Lowry Snow, Chair
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Kera Birkeland
Rep. Dan N. Johnson
Rep. Karen Kwan
Rep. Bradley G. Last
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Susan Pulsipher
Rep. Adam Robertson
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Steve Waldrip
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Craig Hall

Staff Present:
Allyson R. Hicks, Policy Analyst
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Michael E. Curtis, Associate General Counsel
Amy Shewan, Associate General Counsel
Diana Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

1.Committee Business
Chair V. Lowry Snow called the meeting to order at 8:37 AM.
MOTION:Senator Kathleen Riebe moved to approve the minutes of May 18, 2021 committee meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-9.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 9
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. D. Johnson
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Sen. K. Grover
Rep. C. Hall
Rep. B. Last
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
2.Legislative Audit: Public Education Governance
Brian Dean, Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Legislative Auditor General introduced the legislative audit #2020-11, A Performance Audit of Public Education's Governance Structure.
Leah Blevins, Audit Manager, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, continued the presentation on legislative audit #2020-11 and answered questions from the committee.
Mark Huntsman, Chair, State Board of Education, presented the Utah State Board of Education response to legislative audit #2020-11 and answered questions from the committee.
3.Sunset Review: Standards Review Committees
Allyson Hicks, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, provided an overview of the sunset review process.
Jennifer Throndsen, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Angie Stallings, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education, presented on the standards review committees and responded to questions from the committee.
Chair Snow made comments on the presentation.
MOTION:Senator Riebe moved to recommend the proposed committee bill which would extend the sunset date for five years to 2028. Discussion to the motion by committee members.The motion passed with a vote of 17-0-3.
Yeas - 17Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Rep. D. Johnson
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. C. Hall
Sen. A. Millner
4.State Board of Education Administrative Rule on Educational Equity and Addressing Critical Race Theory in Public Education
Mark Huntsman, Chair, Utah State Board of Education presented and spoke to State Board of Education Administrative Rule R277-328, which defines educational equity and addresses how educational equity is included in educator professional learning and classroom instruction.
Scott Hansen, Chair, Standards and Assessment Committee, Utah State Board of Education, continued the presentation and answered questions from the committee.
Mark Huntsman and Scott Hansen answered questions from the committee.
Chair Snow asked for leave of the committee to allow public comment on the state board's proposed rule; no objection.
Jessica Fivash, former teacher, spoke in opposition to the rule.
Carol Lear, State Utah Board of Education member, spoke in favor of the rule.
Jennifer, member of the public, spoke in opposition.
Sophia Anderson, member of the public, spoke in opposition of the rule.
Christina Boggess, member of the public, spoke in opposition of the rule.
Jonathan Bejarano, member of the public, spoke in favor of the rule.
Brooke Stephens, Vice President, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the rule.
Chair Snow gave closing remarks.
MOTION:Senator Riebe moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:14 AM.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-7.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. M. Ballard
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. D. Johnson
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Birkeland
Sen. K. Grover
Rep. C. Hall
Rep. B. Last
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher