Utah Code § 53F-5-219 — Utah Code / Title 53F / Chapter 53F-5 / § 53F-5-219
§ 53F-5-219. Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Core standards" means the core standards for Utah public schools adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 53E-4-202. (b) "Digital citizenship" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-1202. (c) "Evidence-informed" means that an approach: (i) is developed using high-quality research outside of a controlled setting in the given field, as the state board further defines; and (ii) includes strategies and activities with a strong scientific basis for use, as the state board further defines. (d) "Innovative approach" means an evidence-informed approach to civics education. (e) "Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program" or "pilot program" means the civics education pilot program created in Subsection (2). (f) "LEA" means: (i) a school district; (ii) a district school; or (iii) a charter school. (g) "Participating LEA" means an LEA that the state board selects to receive a grant as described in this section. (2) There is created a three-year pilot program known as the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program to promote developmentally-appropriate innovative approaches that are: (a) aligned with core standards; and (b) based on proven practices, including: (i) promoting responsibility for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty secured by the Constitution of the United States; (ii) building confidence in the foundations of American democracy, including: (A) American civic and political institutions; and (B) foundational constitutional concepts; (iii) developing the skills and character traits essential for informed, productive, and thoughtful engagement in civic life, consistent with Subsection 53G-10-204(3); (iv) after providing sufficient instruction in American civics and history to instill the confidence described in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), and after developing the skills described in Subsection (2)(b)(iii), promoting academic service learning and informed participation in civic life, including the policymaking process at different levels of government; and (v) teaching media literacy and digital citizenship. (3) The state board shall: (a) in accordance with this section and subject to legislative appropriations, award a grant to a participating LEA; (b) in selecting participating LEAs, prioritize LEAs that, in the LEA's proposal described in Subsection (3)(d)(iii): (i) emphasize the proven practices described in Subsection (2)(b); and (ii) demonstrate how the LEA's innovative approach aligns with core standards; (c) strive to select participating LEAs: (i) from a variety of geographic areas within the state; (ii) representing students with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds; and (iii) with a range of student population sizes; and (d) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, make rules establishing: (i) eligibility requirements for a participating LEA; (ii) criteria for selecting a participating LEA; (iii) an application process for an LEA to apply to participate in the pilot program, including: (A) a requirement that an LEA submit a proposal that describes the LEA's innovative approach and how the innovative approach aligns with core standards; and (B) requirements for a participating LEA that includes a proposal to contract with a third party as described in Subsection (4)(b); (iv) a process for assessing the outcomes and measuring results of a participating LEA's innovative approach that includes a requirement that: (A) feedback is solicited from parents and students in a participating LEA; and (B) LEAs participate in the process for assessing outcomes and measuring results; and (v) requirements for a report that a participating LEA is required to submit to the state board at the end of the pilot program. (4) A participating LEA: (a) shall: (i) use a grant the state board awards to implement a developmentally-appropriate innovative approach based on at least two proven practices; (ii) integrate the innovative approach described in Subsection (4)(a), into the school curriculum; and (iii) submit a report to the state board in accordance with the rules described in Subsection (3)(d); and (b) may use a grant the state board awards to contract with a third party to help the participating LEA implement the participating LEA's innovative approach if: (i) the participating LEA includes a proposal to contract with a third party in the LEA's proposal described in Subsection (3)(d)(iii); and (ii) the state board approves the third party contract in accordance with rules the state board makes under Subsection (3). (5) The state board may contract with a third party provider to: (a) offer professional learning and mentoring for educators in a participating LEA; (b) identify institutional barriers to achieving innovation in civic teaching and learning at the LEA level; or (c) make recommendations for initiatives, public policy, or legislation to improve civics education. (6) Upon request of the Education Interim Committee, the state board shall report to the Education Interim Committee on the pilot program's progress and outcomes.