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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages high
11 expectations for students with disabilities.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 ▸ describes the benefits students of all abilities obtain when students with disabilities
15 participate in general education classrooms; and
16 ▸ encourages all stakeholders in the educational system to have and maintain high
17 expectations for all students, including students with disabilities.
18 Special Clauses:
19 None
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21 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
22 WHEREAS, there is a significant and persistent achievement gap between students
23 with disabilities and students without disabilities;
24 WHEREAS, more than 80% of students who qualify for services under the Individuals
25 with Disabilities Education Act have disabilities classified as mild to moderate, such as speech
26 delays, learning disabilities, and dyslexia;
27 WHEREAS, there are students with disabilities in most classrooms around the country;
28 WHEREAS, more than half of all students with disabilities spend at least 80% of the
29 school day in general education classrooms;
30 WHEREAS, students with disabilities need quality general education instruction in
31 addition to targeted interventions and accommodations;
32 WHEREAS, time in general education settings for students with disabilities often leads
33 to fewer absences, less disruptive behavior, and better outcomes after high school;
34 WHEREAS, students without disabilities experience new learning and cooperation
35 opportunities when students with disabilities learn in general education classrooms;
36 WHEREAS, what happens between teachers and students in classrooms has a
37 significant impact on student learning and achievement;
38 WHEREAS, research shows that there is a crucial relationship between teacher
39 expectations of students with disabilities and higher levels of achievement amongst these
40 students;
41 WHEREAS, students' mindsets play a key role in their motivation and achievement;
42 WHEREAS, upholding high expectations for all students and promoting cooperative
43 relationships between students of all abilities can reduce the high incidence of stigmatization of
44 students with disabilities; and
45 WHEREAS, having high expectations for all students helps a school community
46 develop an understanding that students with disabilities are first and foremost general
47 education students:
48 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
49 Governor concurring therein, encourages all stakeholders in the educational system, including
50 teachers, parents, administrators, students, and members of the community, to have and
51 maintain high expectations for all students, including students with disabilities.
52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage school
53 communities to include children with disabilities and their families in all school activities,
54 which promotes cooperative relationships between students of all abilities.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
56 stakeholders to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each individual student when making
57 educational decisions.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor support schools
59 in implementing best practices in meeting the needs of students of all ability levels, including
60 providing assistive technologies, so that students with disabilities may be enabled to achieve
61 their full potential.