S.C.R. 5 Enrolled

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING PARENTAL
2 ENGAGEMENT IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
3 2012 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Patricia W. Jones
6 House Sponsor: Carol Spackman Moss
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes and supports
11 parental engagement in the education of their children and efforts to increase parent
12 engagement.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . recognizes the parents and family members of students in Utah schools for their
16 efforts to foster the education of their children by nurturing them, monitoring their
17 progress, and volunteering time in their schools;
18 . expresses support for policies of the Utah State Office of Education, and its
19 constituent districts, unit schools, and charter schools, that provide parents with
20 opportunities to be actively involved in their children's education; and
21 . recognizes the efforts of school districts, schools, teachers, and their parent
22 associations and organizations to create an environment conducive to parental
23 engagement and to encourage family engagement through programs and practices.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
26
27 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
28 WHEREAS, parents are a child's first teachers and are responsible for the education of
29 their children;

30 WHEREAS, Utah's constitutionally established and taxpayer funded public education
31 system is created to support parents in their responsibility to educate their children;
32 WHEREAS, research shows that when parents play an active role, their children
33 achieve greater success as learners, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnic/racial
34 background, or the parents' own level of education;
35 WHEREAS, parental engagement through an association or organization can provide
36 opportunities for collaboration, cooperation, and improvement of student outcomes in the
37 schools;
38 WHEREAS, one study concluded that family participation in education is twice as
39 predictive of a student's academic success as a family's socioeconomic status, and that some of
40 the more intensive programs had effects that were 10 times greater than other factors;
41 WHEREAS, in a state where funds for education are limited and classes are large,
42 parental engagement serves to assist teachers and school personnel with resources and
43 expertise in the arts, science, and technology, and reduces the need for more paid personnel;
44 WHEREAS, Utah Code Section 53A-13-109 states that "the primary responsibility for
45 the education of children within the state resides with their parents or guardians and that the
46 role of state and local governments is to support and assist parents in fulfilling that
47 responsibility";
48 WHEREAS, Utah Code Section 53A-1a-105 states that "The Legislature recognizes the
49 importance of parental participation in the educational process in order for students to achieve
50 and maintain high levels of performance"; and
51 WHEREAS, the Utah Legislature recognizes that parental engagement is key to
52 academic achievement and the importance of parent/community/school partnerships:
53 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
54 Governor concurring therein, recognizes the parents and family members of students in Utah
55 schools for their efforts to foster the education of their children by nurturing them, monitoring
56 their progress, and volunteering time in their schools.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor express support

58 for policies of the Utah State Office of Education, and its constituent districts, unit schools, and
59 charter schools, that provide parents with opportunities to be actively involved in their
60 children's education.
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize the
62 efforts of school districts, schools, teachers, and their parent associations and organizations to
63 create an environment conducive to parental engagement and to encourage family engagement
64 through programs and practices.
65 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah State
66 Office of Education for distribution to each of Utah's school districts and charter schools.