Outline of the state of Utah
State
Utah
Required

Category
Social-Emotional Learning or Character Development

Category
Social-Emotional Learning or Character Development

State law requires districts to integrate social-emotional learning or character education into the school curriculum.

Utah Administrative Code R277-400-8. Prevention and Intervention.

(1) An LEA shall provide a school comprehensive violence prevention and intervention strategies as part of a school's regular curriculum including:

  • (a) resource lessons and materials on anger management;
  • (b) conflict resolution; and
  • (c) respect for diversity and other cultures.

(2) As part of a violence prevention and intervention strategy in subsection (1), a school may provide age-appropriate instruction on firearm safety including appropriate steps to take if a student sees a firearm or facsimile in school.

(3) An LEA shall also develop or incorporate to the extent resources permit:

  • (a) care teams;
  • (b) tiered student assistance programs;
  • (c) social-emotional learning;
  • (d) support though multi-disciplinary teams, such as care teams, that may:
  • (i) review school safety related data;
  • (ii) conduct threat assessments;
  • (iii) consult on case-specific interventions and disciplinary actions;
  • (iv) involve parents in the intervention process; and
  • (v) suggest referrals to resources as appropriate;

(4) An LEA's multi-disciplinary school team as described in Subsection R277-400-8(3) may include:

  • (a) administration personnel;
  • (b) local law enforcement or a school resource officer;
  • (c) a mental health professional; and
  • (d) a general education or special education teacher.

(5) In developing student assistance programs, an LEA may coordinate with other state agencies and the Superintendent.

Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-475-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) This rule is authorized by:

  • (a) the Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of the public school system under the Board;
  • (b) Subsection 53E-3-401(4) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities; and
  • (c) Section 53G-10-304 which directs the Board to provide a rule for a program of instruction within the public schools relating to the flag of the United States.

(2) The purpose of this rule is to provide direction for patriotic, civic and character education programs in an LEA.

Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-475-2. Definitions.

(1) "Character education" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection 53G-10-204(1)(a). (2) "Civic education" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection 53G-10-204(1)(b). (3) "LEA" includes for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. (4) "Patriotic" means having love of and dedication to one's country. (5) "Patriotic education" means the educational and systematic process to help students identify, acquire, and act upon a dedication to one's country.

Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-475-3. Patriotic, Civic and Character Education.

An LEA shall teach patriotic education in the social studies curricula of kindergarten through grade twelve. All educators shall have responsibility for patriotic, civic and character education taught in an integrated school curriculum and in the regular course of school work.

Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-475-4. School responsibilities and required instruction.

(1) An LEA shall:

  • (a) ensure that all patriotic, civic and character education programs are consistent with the requirements of Sections 53G-10-302, 53G-10-304, and 53G-10-204;
  • (b) provide the setting and opportunities to teach patriotic values associated with the flag of the United States by example; and
  • (c) make information about the flag, respect for the flag, and civility toward all during patriotic activities available on the LEA's website.

(2) An LEA shall provide instruction in United States history and government that includes the following:

  • (a) a study of forms of government including:
  • (i) a republic;
  • (ii) a pure democracy;
  • (iii) a monarchy; and
  • (iv) an oligarchy.
  • (b) political philosophies and economic systems including:
  • (i) socialism;
  • (ii) individualism; and
  • (iii) free market capitalism.
  • (c) the United States' form of government: a compound constitutional republic; and
  • (d) the flag of the United States and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag consistent with:
  • (i) Subsection 53G-10-304(2);
  • (ii) Section 76-9-601;
  • (iii) the plan of the social studies Core curriculum in grades kindergarten through six; and
  • (iv) Subsection 53G-10-304(3).
Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-609-4. LEA Responsibility to Develop Plans.

(1) An LEA or school shall develop and implement a board approved comprehensive LEA plan or policy for student and classroom management, and school discipline.

(2) An LEA shall include administration, instruction and support staff, students, parents, community council, and other community members in policy development, training, and prevention implementation so as to create a community sense of participation, ownership, support, and responsibility.

(3) A plan described in Subsection (1) shall include:

  • (a) the definitions of Section 53G-8-210;
  • (b) written Standard for student behavior expectations, including school and classroom management;
  • (c) effective instructional practices for teaching student expectations, including:
  • (i) self-discipline;
  • (ii) citizenship;
  • (iii) civic skills; and
  • (iv) social skills;
  • (d) systematic methods for reinforcement of expected behaviors;
  • (e) uniform methods for correction of student behavior;
  • (f) uniform methods for at least annual school level data-based evaluations of efficiency and effectiveness;
  • (g) an ongoing staff development program related to development of:
  • (i) student behavior expectations;
  • (ii) effective instructional practices for teaching and reinforcing behavior expectations;
  • (iii) effective intervention strategies; and
  • (iv) effective strategies for evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of interventions;
  • (h) procedures for ongoing training of appropriate school personnel in:
  • (i) crisis intervention training;
  • (ii) emergency safety intervention professional development; and
  • (iii) LEA policies related to emergency safety interventions consistent with evidence-based practice;
  • (i) policies and procedures relating to the use and abuse of alcohol and controlled substances by students;
  • (j) policies and procedures, consistent with requirements of Rule R277-613, related to:
  • (i) bullying;
  • (ii) cyber-bullying;
  • (iii) harassment;
  • (iv) hazing; and
  • (v) retaliation;
  • (k) policies and procedures for the use of emergency safety interventions for all students consistent with evidence-based practices including prohibition of:
  • (i) physical restraint, subject to the requirements of Section R277-609-5, except when the physical restraint is allowed as described in Subsection 53G-8-302(2);
  • (ii) prone, or face-down, physical restraint;
  • (iii) supine, or face-up, physical restraint;
  • (iv) physical restraint that obstructs the airway of a student or adversely affects a student's primary mode of communication;
  • (v) mechanical restraint, except:
  • (A) protective or stabilizing restraints;
  • (B) restraints required by law, including seatbelts or any other safety equipment when used to secure students during transportation; and
  • (C) any device used by a law enforcement officer in carrying out law enforcement duties;
  • (vi) chemical restraint, except as:
  • (A) prescribed by a licensed physician, or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional's authority under State law, for the standard treatment of a student's medical or psychiatric condition; and
  • (B) administered as prescribed by the licensed physician or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional's authority under state law;
  • (vii) seclusionary time out, subject to the requirements of Section R277-609-5, except when a student presents an immediate danger of serious physical harm to self or others; and
  • (viii) for a student with a disability, emergency safety interventions written into a student's IEP, as a planned intervention, unless:
  • (A) school personnel, the family, and the IEP team agree less restrictive means which meet circumstances described in Section R277-608-5 have been attempted;
  • (B) a FBA has been conducted; and
  • (C) a positive behavior intervention plan based on data analysis has been written into the plan and implemented.
Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Code 53G-10-204. Civic and character education -- Definitions -- Legislative finding -- Elements -- Reporting requirements.

(4) Local school boards and school administrators may provide training, direction, and encouragement, as needed, to accomplish the intent and requirements of this section and to effectively emphasize civic and character education in the course of regular instruction in the public schools.

(5) Civic and character education in public schools are:

  • (a) not intended to be separate programs in need of special funding or added specialists to be accomplished; and
  • (b) core principles which reflect the shared values of the citizens of Utah and the founding principles upon which representative democracy in the United States and the state of Utah are based.

(6) In accordance with Section 53E-1-203, the state board shall report to the Education Interim Committee the methods used, and the results being achieved, to instruct and prepare students to become informed and responsible citizens through an integrated curriculum taught in connection with regular school work as required in this section.

Policy Type
Statute