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EDUCATION STANDARDS REVIEW COMMITTEE

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AMENDMENTS

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2021 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

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Senate Sponsor: Ann Millner

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill amends provisions related to the appointment of members of a committee that
11     reviews core standards for Utah public schools.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     requires the State Board of Education (state board) to notify the speaker of the
15     House of Representatives and the president of the Senate before establishing a
16     standards review committee;
17          ▸     permits the chair of the state board, instead of the speaker of the House of
18     Representatives or the president of the Senate, to appoint certain members of a
19     standards review committee if the speaker of the House of Representatives or the
20     president of the Senate does not make the appointments within a certain time frame;
21     and
22          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
23     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24          None
25     Other Special Clauses:
26          None
27     Utah Code Sections Affected:
28     AMENDS:
29          53E-4-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 186
30     

31     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32          Section 1. Section 53E-4-203 is amended to read:
33          53E-4-203. Standards review committee.
34          (1) Subject to Subsection (4), the state board shall establish:
35          (a) a time line for the review by a standards review committee of the core standards for
36     Utah public schools for:
37          (i) English language arts;
38          (ii) mathematics;
39          (iii) science;
40          (iv) social studies;
41          (v) fine arts;
42          (vi) physical education and health; and
43          (vii) early childhood education; and
44          (b) a separate standards review committee for each subject area [specified] described in
45     Subsection (1)(a) to review, and recommend to the state board revisions to, the core standards
46     for Utah public schools for the subject area.
47          (2) (a) At least one year before the state board takes formal action to adopt new core
48     standards for Utah public schools, the state board shall establish a standards review committee
49     [as required by Subsection (1)(b)].
50          (b) The state board shall notify the speaker of the House of Representatives and the
51     president of the Senate at least 30 business days before establishing a standards review
52     committee.
53          (3) A standards review committee shall meet at least twice during the time period
54     described in Subsection (2)(a).
55          (4) In establishing a time line for the review of core standards for Utah public schools
56     by a standards review committee, the state board shall give priority to establishing a standards
57     review committee to review, and recommend revisions to, the mathematics core standards for
58     Utah public schools.
59          (5) (a) The membership of a standards review committee consists of:
60          [(a)] (i) seven individuals, with expertise in the subject of the core standards being
61     reviewed, appointed by the state board chair, including teachers, business representatives,
62     faculty of higher education institutions in Utah, and others as determined by the state board
63     chair;
64          [(b)] (ii) except as provided in Subsection (5)(b)(i), five parents of public education
65     students appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
66          [(c)] (iii) except as provided in Subsection (5)(b)(ii), five parents of public education
67     students appointed by the president of the Senate.
68          (b) The state board chair may appoint a parent of a public education student to a
69     standards review committee in place of:
70          (i) an appointment described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii), if the speaker of the House of
71     Representatives does not make the appointment within 30 days of the state board providing the
72     notification described in Subsection (2)(b); or
73          (ii) an appointment described in Subsection (5)(a)(iii), if the president of the Senate
74     does not make the appointment within 30 days of the state board providing the notification
75     described in Subsection (2)(b).
76          (6) The state board shall provide staff support to [the] a standards review committee.
77          (7) A member of [the] a standards review committee may not receive compensation or
78     benefits for the member's service on the standards review committee.
79          (8) Among the criteria a standards review committee shall consider when reviewing the
80     core standards for Utah public schools is giving students an adequate foundation to
81     successfully pursue college, technical education, a career, or other life pursuits.
82          (9) A standards review committee shall submit, to the state board, comments and
83     recommendations for revision of the core standards for Utah public schools.
84          (10) The state board shall take into consideration the comments and recommendations
85     of a standards review committee in adopting the core standards for Utah public schools.
86          (11) (a) Nothing in this section prohibits the state board from amending or adding
87     individual core standards for Utah public schools as the need arises in the state board's ongoing
88     responsibilities.
89          (b) If the state board makes changes as described in Subsection (11)(a), the state board
90     shall include the changes in the annual report the state board submits to the Education Interim
91     Committee [under] described in Section 53E-4-202.