Utah: College and Career Policies

Content Standards: Mathematics

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) adopted the K-12 Utah Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts at their meeting on August 6, 2010. These standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Graduation Requirements: Additional Graduation Requirements

Utah requires 11 additional credits for graduation.

Graduation Requirements: Mathematics

This includes successful completion of a combination of the foundation or foundation honors courses, Secondary Mathematics I, Secondary Mathematics II, and Secondary Mathematics III.

Educator Professional Growth and Development: Administrator Licensure Renewal

Administrators have to acquire 200 license renewal points over a 5 or 7 year span depending on their license level.

Student Assessments: Mathematics

The assessment that is required is SAGE, summative end-of-year tests measuring Math in grades 3-8 and secondary math 1,2,3.

Content Standards: Arts (Fine Arts)

Fine Arts standards are undergoing revision with an anticipated adoption of date of April 2016.

Content Standards: Other

Utah has standards in 12 different content areas including fine arts, language arts, physical education, world language, educational technology, health education, library media, science, English language proficiency, financial literacy, math, and social studies.

Student Assessments: Assessment Authority

Utah State Board of Education has full authority to adopt assessments.

Content Standards: Physical Education

Utah adopted new physical education standards in 2016, for implementation in Fall 2016.

Educator Performance Evaluation: Educator Evaluation Authority

Public Educator Evaluation Requirements (PEER)- State Board Rule R277-531; Board rule R277-531 was adopted September 2011, outlining the parameters that every district must incorporate into new or existing evaluation systems in order to be in compliance. The Public Education Employment Reform Act of 2012, known as Senate Bill 64, requires a “valid and reliable” evaluation tool in each school district no later than 2015-16. The Utah State Office of Education (USOE) is working with several pilot school districts to develop a model evaluation system that meets requirements established in both USBE rule and state code.

Educator Professional Growth and Development: Professional Development

The Utah State Legislature approved 8 standards of professional learning.

Educator Performance Evaluation: Educator Evaluation Policy

Rules have been updated and the evaluation system is in place.

Content Standards: Science

Adoption dates vary by grade band. 6-8 Standards were updated in 2015.

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Educator Licensure Authority

The Utah State Board of Education oversees the teacher certification process for the state.

Graduation Requirements: Science

3 credits of science courses are required to graduate in Utah.

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Educator Licensure Policy

In order to obtain a Utah teaching license, an applicant must meet, but is not always limited to, the following requirements: must have at least a BA Degree, completed a Utah teacher certification program, and received passing scores on the required assessments. All state licenses accepted except AK, IA, MN, MO, SD, WI, and WY.

Student Assessments: Science

CRT, UBSCT, Utah DWA, and ITBS are all standardized tests part of the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students, known as U-PASS. Utah U-PASS tests measure the progress of students from second grade through high school. Utah U-PASS is also used by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) in evaluating each school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The Utah CRT, UBSCT, and Utah DWA assessments are all criterion-referenced tests based on Utah Core Curriculum standards. As criterion-referenced tests, students only compete against him or herself, rather than be compared against other test takers.

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Educator Preparation Authority

The Utah State Board of Education, under 53A-6-107, has authority over teacher preparation program approval.

Content Standards: Social Studies

Utah updated the social studies standards in 2009.

Professional Program Standards and Requirements: Educator Preparation Policy

In order for a teacher preparation program to be approved to give licenses, they must be accredited and meet the following criteria.

Graduation Requirements: Social Studies

3 units of credit are required. .5 of Geography for Life, .5 of World Civilizations, 1 of US History, .5 of US Government and Citizenship.

Content Standards: English as a second language

Utah has adopted the WIDA Standards.

Content Standards: Standards Authority

The State Board of Education has full authority to adopt standards. The Utah State Board of Education is charged with establishing minimum standards for public schools. (H.B. 342 Powers and Duties of the State Board of Education requires the Board to convene a parent review committee for new core standards at least one year before adoption by the Board.)

Content Standards: English Language Arts

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Teacher Licensure Renewal

A. An active educator license holder shall satisfy the final review and obtain the appropriate signatures regarding completion of the professional learning plan between January 1 and June 30 of the educator's assigned renewal year.
(1) A Level 2 or 3 educator license holder who has completed all additional requirements for renewal shall complete the online renewal provided by USOE between January 1 and June 30 of the educator's assigned renewal year.

State Policy Database

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