During their regular meeting on June 1, 2012, the Utah State Board of Education:
- Reviewed a study comparing Utah’s performance on National Assessment of Educational Progress assessments in language arts, math and science with other states with similar scores and cross-referenced with class size and per-pupil funding.
- Moved forward on education employment reform with preliminary passage of the Public Educator Evaluation Requirements (PEER).
- Continued to expand education choice with the approval of eight charter schools amendments.
Superintendent Salutes This Year’s High School Graduates
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Larry K. Shumway offered his congratulations to this year’s graduates from Utah high schools. He also encouraged them to continue their education whether through certificate, associate degree or college degree programs.
Smart School Technology Program Approved to Begin This Fall
The Utah State Board of Education approved Rule R277-617 Smart School Technology Program so that the program can begin this fall. The program, funded by the 2012 Utah Legislature, is a three-year program designed to set up a technology provider to implement a customized, whole school technology deployment plan.
For Additional Information:
Brenda Hales, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services, at (801) 538-7515.
Superintendent Looks at NAEP Scores Compared with Class Size, Student Funding
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Larry K. Shumway had figures from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Utah student performance in math, science and language arts compared with states with similar scores and then cross-referenced with class size and per-pupil funding. You can see those findings here.
For Additional Information:
Judy Park, Associate Superintendent for Student Services and Federal Programs, at (801) 538-7550.
Board Takes Action on 31 Rule Amendments, Continuations, and Repeals
The Utah State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to the following changes. Final approval will likely come in the Board’s August 3 meeting.
- Rule R277-726 Statewide Public Education Online Program. This rule is being amended to bring it in compliance with new statutes (53A-15-1201 to 1217) recently approved by the Utah Legislature.
- Rule 277-110 Legislative Supplemental Salary Adjustment. This rule is being amended to reflect accurate Utah Code references and add clarifying language.
- Rule 277-407 School Fees. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
- R277-720 Child Nutrition Programs. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
- R277-400 School Emergency Response Plans. This rule is being amended to reflect changes in R710-4 Buildings Under the Jurisdiction of the State Fire Prevention Board. The changes deal with monthly fire drills.
- R277-750 Education Programs for Students with Disabilities. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
- R277-115 Material Developed with State Public Education Funds. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
- R277-116 Utah State Bord of Education Internal Audit Procedure. This rule is being amended to include the term “local education agency” to the definition of “audit.”
- R277-475 Patriotic, Civic and Character Education. This rule is being amended to bring it in compliance with a new statute recently approved by the Utah Legislature.
- R277-709 Education Programs Serving Youth in Custody. This amendment adds the Utah State Hospital to a list of providers that can be reimbursed for services.
- R277-433 Disposal of Textbooks in the Public Schools. This rule is being amended to include updated terminology.
- R277-608 Prohibition of Corporal Punishment in Utah’s Public Schools. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
- R277-703 Centennial Scholarship for Early Graduation. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
- R277-410 Accreditation of Schools. This rule is being amended to incorporate the use of AdvancED in the accreditation process.
- R277-411 Elementary School Accreditation, R277-412 Junior High and Middle School Accreditation, and R277-413 Accreditation of Secondary Schools. These three rules are being proposed for repeal and consolidation into one school accreditation rule.
- R277-713-6 Concurrent Enrollment of High School Students in College Courses – Student Tuition, Fees and Credit for Concurrent Enrollment Programs. This rule is being amended to add a provision and fee for video conferencing.
- R277-911 Secondary Career and Technical Education. This rule is being continued following a five-year review. Amendments to the rule will be proposed at a later time.
- R277-531 Public Educator Evaluation Requirements (PEER). This rule is being amended to bring it in compliance with the Public Education Employment Reform measure recently passed by the Utah Legislature.
- R277-502 Educator Licensing and Data Retention. This rule is being continued following a five-year review. Amendments to the rule will be proposed at a later time.
- R277-505 Administrative License Areas of Concentration and Programs. This rule is being continued following a five-year review. Amendments to the rule will be proposed at a later time.
- R277-506 School Psychologists, School Social Workers, and School Counselors Licenses and Programs. This rule is being continued following a five-year review. Amendments to the rule will be proposed at a later time.
- R277-477 Distribution of Funds from the Interest and Divided Account (School LAND Trust Funds) and Administration of the School LAND Trust Program. This rule is being amended to incorporate changes recently approved by the Legislature.
- R277-419 Pupil Accounting. This rule is being amended to provide funding to local education agencies for career and technical education students enrolled in approved courses in specific circumstances.
- R277-401 Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by Education Personnel. This rule is being amended to update terminology.
- R277-103 USOE Government Records and Management Act. This rule is being amended to update terminology.
- R277-445 Classifying Small Schools as Necessarily Existent. This rule is being amended to change the distribution formula due to an appropriation change from the Utah Legislature.
- R277-514 Board Procedures: Sanctions for Educator Misconduct. This rule is being amended with minor wording changes.
- R277-101 Utah State Board of Education Procedures. This rule is being amended with minor wording changes.
- R277-112 Prohibiting Discrimination in the Public Schools. This rule is being continued following a five-year review.
For Additional Information:
judy[dot]park[at]schools[dot]utah[dot]gov(Judy Park), Associate Superintendent for Student Services and Federal Programs, at (801) 538-7550.
bruce[dot]williams [at] schools [dot] utah [dot] gov (Bruce Williams), Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, at (801) 538-7514.
brenda [dot] hales [at] schools [dot] utah [dot] gov (Brenda Hales), Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services, at (801) 538-7515
martell [dot] menlove [at] schools [dot] utah [dot] gov (Martell Menlove), Deputy Superintendent, at (801) 538-7762.
Board Approves Eight Charter School Amendment Requests
The Utah State Board of Education approved the following charter school amendment requests:
- American Preparatory Academy request to increase the governing board from five to seven members and include enrollment preference for English language learners and children of refugee families.
- George Washington Academy request to modify several sections of its charter.
- Paradigm High School request to add 80 students in the 2013-14 school year.
- Providence Hall request to add grades 10-12 and 700 students beginning in the 2013-14 school year.
- Quail Run Primary School request to add grade nine with no additional students.
- Spectrum Academy request to add a satellite school serving grades 7-12 and 400 students beginning in the 2014-15 school year.
- Summit Academy request to add a satellite school serving grades K-8 and 1,000 students beginning in the 2014-15 school year.
- Valley Academy request to remove all references to “iSchool” in its charter. The State Charter School Board did not recommend allowing Valley to add an eighth grade and the State Board of Education concurred in that recommendation.
For Additional Information
marlies[dot]burns[at]schools[dot]utah[dot]gov(Marlies Burns), State Charter School Director, at (801) 538-7817.
brenda[dot]hales[at]schools[dot]utah[dot]gov(Brenda Hales), Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services, at (801) 538-7515.
Board Appoints Dudley as Redevelopment Agency Representative
The Utah State Board of Education approved the appointment of Utah State Office of Education Property Tax and Minimum School Program Specialist Cathy Dudley as the Board’s representative for redevelopment agency and taxing entity committee purposes. Dudley replaces recently retired School Finance Director Larry Newton in that position.
Board Honors Utah’s 2012 Presidential Scholars
By executive order, the United States Presidential Scholars Program has been honoring our finest students since 1964. Every year since then, up to 141 graduating seniors have been recognized for their achievements in academics and the arts. Candidates are first evaluated using their SAT and ACT scores or their artistic ability, depending on the category. Invitations to apply are sent out to the eligible students, about 20 in each state. These numbers are whittled down even further as academic and artistic achievements, personal characteristics, leadership, and service activities are considered. The applications are reviewed, semifinalists are chosen by a committee. From there, two students from each state are selected as finalists, in addition to 20 arts scholars nationwide. Today, we are fortunate to have some of Utah’s Presidential scholars with us so we can honor them for this prestigious achievement. Please join me in recognizing these outstanding students:
The semifinalists are:
- Shelby Jorgensen, Utah County Academy of Sciences
- Nikolaos Liodakis, Hillcrest High School
- Malia Stephens, Academy for Math, Engineering and Science
- Stephen Ward, Bountiful High School
The finalists are:
- Skylar Goldman, Park City High School
- Andrew Johnson, Riverton High School
Board Approves Consent Calendar
The Board approved its consent calendar.
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