Legislative Bills

SB0242 | Alternative Education Tax Credit Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts a refundable tax credit for certain education expenses.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
enacts a one-time refundable tax credit that an individual may claim for a dependent's education expenses resulting from disenrollment in public education and enrollment in private education or home school.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0242

Year:

2021

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2010-2 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill diverts tax dollars from the education fund creating less funding for public education programs.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA oppose vouchers, tax credits and deductions and other similar funding sources for public and private preschool, elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for students.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Support education legislation which guarantees that public funds intended for the funding of the public education system not be allocated for private interests including vouchers, tax credits, or other means.

SB0244S02 | Ethnic Studies Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill requires ethnic studies in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
▸ requires the State Board of Education to incorporate ethnic studies into the core standards for Utah public schools (core standards);
▸ requires a local education agency to:
• adopt ethnic studies instructional materials and curriculum that align with core standards; and
• integrate ethnic studies into regular school work for kindergarten through grade 12;
▸ creates the Ethnic Studies Commission (commission) to:
• study the contributions of ethnic minorities in Utah; and
• recommend to the state board how to incorporate ethnic studies into core standards;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0244S02

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA supports having standards that are more representative of the general population. This will benefit students in general and support minority students whose stories have been sometimes ignored or distorted to feel they are represented. However, Utah PTA recognizes that proposing these standards is under the purview of the Utah State Board of Education rather than the legislature.

Commission:

Community Engagement

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation:

Equity in the form of equal justice, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities in every phase of life for all children and youth, while recognizing that each child is unique with individual needs and talents.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Statement: Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Acknowledge and appreciate individual ideas, knowledge and values that are different from
our own.
Seek out and learn from a diverse set of perspectives, skills and experiences, staying open to the unfamiliar and possibly uncomfortable.

National PTA Position Statement: CITIZENSHIP AND EQUALITY
Educational programs designed to increase understanding of the U.S. Constitution and civil rights, civil liberties, and appreciation for those individuals who fought for them;

SB0251S01 | Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program

Description

General Description:

This bill makes changes to the Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program.

Highlighted Provisions:

"14 ▸ permits a local education agency to select certain teachers as candidates for a
15 scholarship award through the Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor
16 Pipeline Program (program);
17 ▸ allows scholarship money awarded through the program to be used for stipends for
18 school counselor assistants"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0251S01

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2017-2 | Support for Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers in Schools

Impact on Children:

This bill will help fill the tremendous shortfall in the number of available school counselors by making a pathway for districts to be able to "grow their own" school counselors.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations actively advocate for increased funding for additional trained counselors, psychologists, and social workers to assist and educate families and youth in both elementary and secondary schools participating in the public school system.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

4. Support the continued development of educator career pathways programs including pathways for counselor, psychologist and social workers. Support incentives & programs to increase the number of counselors, psychologists and social workers for greater access for our students.

SB0258S01 | Upstart Program Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends and enacts provisions of the UPSTART program.

Highlighted Provisions:

UPSTART PROGRAM AMENDMENTS

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0258S01

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA believes that Early Childhood programs should stay under the management of an educational entity and keep high standards in learning and assessment.

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2009-1 | Early Childhood

Impact on Children:

Experiences in early childhood determine whether a child’s developing brain architecture provides a strong foundation for future learning, behavior, and health. Excellent education in early childhood set the child on a path of success.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies educate parents on the importance of quality early childhood learning experiences; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies work collaboratively with existing early childhood programs to better coordinate services; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies advocate for policies and funding to improve early childhood services throughout the state

SB0260 | School Events Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill directs the State Board of Education to make rules clarifying that school principals and local education agency administration have authority to remove a spectator or participant from a school-sponsored activity for certain disruptive behavior under certain circumstances.

Highlighted Provisions:

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0260

Year:

2024

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2022-1 | Safe School Policies

Impact on Children:

Poor behavior by spectators at school sporting events has been an increasing problem. Principals and school personnel need additional tools to manage the behavior of spectators. All community members should work together to provide a safe environment for our students.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage all efforts to address school safety to involve all stakeholders, especially students, parents, and families, and consider a variety of factors including the physical and psychological safety of students

Legislative Bills

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