Utah Code § 53E-2-304 — Utah Code / Title 53E / Chapter 53E-2 / § 53E-2-304
§ 53E-2-304. School district and individual school powers -- Plan for college and career readiness definition.
Status: in_force

(1) In order to acquire and develop the characteristics listed in Section 53E-2-302, each school district and each public school within its respective district shall implement a comprehensive system of accountability in which students advance through public schools by demonstrating competency in the core standards for Utah public schools through the use of diverse assessment instruments such as authentic assessments, projects, and portfolios. (2) (a) Each school district and public school shall: (i) develop and implement programs integrating technology into the curriculum, instruction, and student assessment; (ii) in accordance with Subsection (5) and beginning July 1, 2025: (A) provide an environment to all educators, school staff, and students that does not pose a predictable threat of serious bodily injury to the educators, school staff, or students; (B) provide an education to all students in which the students' classroom is not disrupted by a pattern of behavior that interferes substantially and materially with classroom instruction; and (C) provide an environment to all educators, school staff, and students that is free from repeated verbal or physical sexual harassment or sexual assault; (iii) provide for teacher and parent involvement in policymaking at the school site; (iv) implement a public school choice program to give parents, students, and teachers greater flexibility in designing and choosing among programs with different focuses through schools within the same district and other districts, subject to space availability, demographics, and legal and performance criteria; (v) establish strategic planning at both the district and school level and site-based decision making programs at the school level; (vi) provide opportunities for each student to acquire and develop academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and abilities; (vii) participate in ongoing research and development projects primarily at the school level aimed at improving the quality of education within the system; and (viii) involve business and industry in the education process through the establishment of partnerships with the business community at the district and school level. (b) (i) As used in this section, "plan for college and career readiness" means a plan developed by a student and the student's parent, in consultation with school counselors, teachers, and administrators that: (A) is initiated at the beginning of grade 7; (B) identifies a student's skills and objectives; (C) maps out a strategy to guide a student's course selection; and (D) links a student to post-secondary options, including higher education and careers. (ii) Each local school board, in consultation with school personnel, parents, and school community councils or similar entities shall establish policies to provide for the effective implementation of a plan for college and career readiness for each student at the school site. (iii) The policies shall include guidelines and expectations for: (A) recognizing the student's accomplishments, strengths, and progress toward meeting student achievement standards as defined in the core standards for Utah public schools; (B) planning, monitoring, and managing education and career development; and (C) involving students, parents, and school personnel in preparing and implementing an individual learning plan and a plan for college and career readiness. (iv) A parent may request a conference with school personnel in addition to an individual learning plan or a plan for college and career readiness conference established by local school board policy. (v) Time spent during the school day to implement an individual learning plan or a plan for college and career readiness is considered part of the school term described in Section 53F-2-102. (3) A school district or public school may submit proposals to modify or waive rules or policies of a supervisory authority within the public education system in order to acquire or develop the characteristics listed in Section 53E-2-302. (4) (a) Each school district and public school shall make an annual report to its patrons on its activities under this section. (b) The reporting process shall involve participation from teachers, parents, and the community at large in determining how well the district or school is performing. (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the state board shall make rules to ensure implementation of the requirements described in Subsection (2)(a)(ii). (6) Nothing in this section creates a private right of action or constitutes a waiver of immunity under Section 63G-7-301.