2023 Utah Code › Title 53G - Public Education System -- Local Administration › Chapter 10 - Curriculum Participation and Requirements › Part 2 - General Requirements and Participation › Section 206 - Educational freedom.

Effective 7/31/2023
53G-10-206.
Educational freedom.
(1) As used in this section:
(a)
(i) "Administrative personnel" means any LEA or state board staff personnel who have system-wide, LEA-wide, or school-wide functions and who perform management activities, including:
(A) developing broad policies for LEA or state-level boards; and
(B) executing developed policies through the direction of personnel at any level within the state or LEA.
(ii) "Administrative personnel" includes state, LEA, or school superintendents, assistant superintendents, deputy superintendents, school principals, assistant principals, directors, executive directors, network directors, cabinet members, subject area directors, grant coordinators, specialty directors, career center directors, educational specialists, technology personnel, technology administrators, and others who perform management activities.
(b)
(i) "Instructional personnel" means an individual whose function includes the provision of:
(A) direct or indirect instructional services to students;
(B) direct or indirect support in the learning process of students; or
(C) direct or indirect delivery of instruction, training, coaching, evaluation, or professional development to instructional or administrative personnel.
(ii) "Instructional personnel" includes:
(A) the state board, LEAs, schools, superintendents, boards, administrators, administrative staff, teachers, classroom teachers, facilitators, coaches, proctors, therapists, counselors, student personnel services, librarians, media specialists, associations, affiliations, committees, contractors, vendors, consultants, advisors, outside entities, community volunteers, para-professionals, public-private partners, trainers, mentors, specialists, and staff; or
(B) any other employees, officials, government agencies, educational entities, persons, or groups for whom access to students is facilitated through, or not feasible without, the public education system.
(2)
(a) Each LEA shall provide an annual assurance to the state board that the LEA's professional learning, administrative functions, displays, and instructional and curricular materials, are consistent with the following principles of individual freedom:
(i) the principle that all individuals are equal before the law and have unalienable rights; and
(ii) the following principles of individual freedom:
(A) that no individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, solely by virtue of the individual's race, sex, or sexual orientation;
(B) that no race is inherently superior or inferior to another race;
(C) that no person should be subject to discrimination or adverse treatment solely or partly on the basis of the individual's race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation;
(D) that meritocracy or character traits, including hard work ethic, are not racist nor associated with or inconsistent with any racial or ethnic group; and
(E) that an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, does not bear responsibility for actions that other members of the same race or sex committed in the past or present.
(b) Nothing in this section prohibits instruction regarding race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or sex in a manner that is consistent with the principles described in Subsection (2)(a).
(3) The state board or an LEA may not:
(a) attempt to persuade a student or instructional or administrative personnel to a point of view that is inconsistent with the principles described in Subsection (2)(a); or
(b) implement policies or programs, or allow instructional personnel or administrative personnel to implement policies or programs, with content that is inconsistent with the principles described in Subsection (2)(a).
(4) The State Instructional Materials Commission may not recommend to the state board instructional materials under Section 53E-4-403 that violate this section or are inconsistent with the principles described in Subsection (2)(a).
(5) The state board and state superintendent may not develop or continue to use core standards under Section 53E-3-301 or professional learning that are inconsistent with the principles described in Subsection (2)(a).
Enacted by Chapter 294, 2023 General Session