S.B. 48 Enrolled

1

MISSION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Patricia W. Jones
5 House Sponsor: Francis D. Gibson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill expands the mission statement of public education.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . adds a vision statement for the public education system;
13 . adds language to broaden and update the mission statement of public education; and
14 . makes technical changes.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53A-1a-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1992, Chapter 47
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53A-1a-103 is amended to read:
25 53A-1a-103. Public education's vision and mission.
26 (1) The Legislature envisions an educated citizenry that encompasses the following
27 foundational principles:
28 (a) citizen participation in civic and political affairs;
29 (b) economic prosperity for the state by graduating students who are college and career

30 ready;
31 (c) strong moral and social values; and
32 (d) loyalty and commitment to constitutional government.
33 (2) The Legislature recognizes that public education's mission is to assure Utah the best
34 educated citizenry in the world and each individual the training to succeed in a global society[,]
35 by providing students with:
36 (a) learning and occupational skills[,];
37 (b) character development[,];
38 (c) literacy[, and basic knowledge] and numeracy;
39 (d) high quality instruction;
40 (e) curriculum with high standards and relevance; and
41 (f) effective assessment to inform high quality instruction and accountability.
42 (3) The Legislature:
43 (a) recognizes that parents or guardians are a child's first teachers and are responsible
44 for the education of their children;
45 (b) encourages family engagement and adequate preparation so that students enter the
46 public education system ready to learn; and
47 (c) intends that the mission detailed in Subsection (2) be carried out through a
48 responsive educational system that guarantees local school communities autonomy, flexibility,
49 and client choice, while holding them accountable for results.
50 (4) This section will be applied consistent with Section 53A-13-109 .