Back to Utah

HB0488 • 2026

Standards and Curriculum Amendments

Standards and Curriculum Amendments

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. Auxier, Tiara
Last action
2026-03-06
Official status
House/ filed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Standards and Curriculum Amendments

This bill amends provisions related to social studies instructional materials and art standards.

What This Bill Does

  • This bill amends provisions related to social studies instructional materials and art standards.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-06 House file for bills not passed

    House/ filed

  2. 2026-03-06 Clerk of the House

    House/ strike enacting clause

  3. 2026-02-10 House Rules Committee

    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  4. 2026-02-10 Released

    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0488

  5. 2026-02-06 Version Sponsor

    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0488

  6. 2026-02-04 Legislative Research and General Counsel

    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

  7. 2026-02-04 House Rules Committee

    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  8. 2026-02-04 Clerk of the House

    House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  9. 2026-02-04 Legislative Fiscal Analyst

    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0488

  10. 2026-02-04 Legislative Fiscal Agency

    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0488

  11. 2026-02-04 Legislative Research and General Counsel

    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

Official Summary Text

This bill amends provisions related to social studies instructional materials and art standards.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
16
53E-4-202
53E-4-208
53E-4-303
53G-10-302
53G-10-307
0
Standards and Curriculum Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Tiara Auxier
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to social studies instructional materials and art
standards.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
requires the State Board of Education to develop high-quality open educational resource
instructional materials for social studies and civics education;
requires open educational resources to be updated when social studies standards are
revised;
requires social studies instruction on American Exceptionalism and comparative
government systems;
requires instruction on the Bible as a literary and historical text;
requires integration of founding documents in English language arts assessments;
requires instruction on the roles and responsibilities of government officials;
allows local education agencies to determine whether applied crafts and technical arts
courses meet fine arts credit requirements; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-4-202
Effective
07/01/26
Partially Repealed
01/01/28
, as last amended by Laws
of Utah 2024, Third Special Session, Chapter 5
53E-4-303
Effective
07/01/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 289
53G-10-302
Effective
07/01/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 452
53G-10-307
Effective
07/01/26
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 478
ENACTS:
53E-4-208
Effective
07/01/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
53E-4-202
is amended to read:
53E-4-202
Effective
07/01/26
Partially Repealed
01/01/28
. Core standards for
Utah public schools -- Notice and hearing requirements.
(1)
(a)
In establishing minimum standards related to curriculum and instruction
requirements under Section
53E-3-501
, the state board shall, in consultation with
local school boards, school superintendents, teachers, employers, and parents
implement core standards for Utah public schools that will enable students to, among
other objectives:
(i)
communicate effectively, both verbally and through written communication;
(ii)
apply mathematics;
and
(iii)
access, analyze, and apply information
.
; and
(iv)
understand history and government as described in Sections
53E-4-208
and
53G-10-302
.
(b)
Except as provided in this public education code, the state board may recommend
but may not require a local school board or charter school governing board to use:
(i)
a particular curriculum or instructional material; or
(ii)
a model curriculum or instructional material.
(2)
The state board shall, in establishing the core standards for Utah public schools:
(a)
identify the basic knowledge, skills, and competencies each student is expected to
acquire or master as the student advances through the public education system; and
(b)
align with each other the core standards for Utah public schools and the assessments
described in Section
53E-4-303
.
(3)
The basic knowledge, skills, and competencies identified
pursuant to
in accordance
with
Subsection
(2)(a)
shall increase in depth and complexity from year to year and
focus on consistent and continual progress within and between grade levels and courses
in the basic academic areas of:
(a)
English, including explicit phonics, spelling, grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary,
speech, and listening;
and
(b)
mathematics, including basic computational skills
.
; and
(c)
social studies, including history and government as described in Sections
53E-4-208

and
53G-10-302
.
(4)
Before adopting core standards for Utah public schools, the state board shall:
(a)
publicize draft core standards for Utah public schools for the state, as a class A
notice under Section
63G-30-102
, for at least 90 days;
(b)
invite public comment on the draft core standards for Utah public schools for a
period of not less than 90 days; and
(c)
conduct three public hearings that are held in different regions of the state on the
draft core standards for Utah public schools.
(5)
LEA governing boards shall design their school programs, that are supported by
generally accepted scientific standards of evidence, to focus on the core standards for
Utah public schools with the expectation that each program will enhance or help achieve
mastery of the core standards for Utah public schools.
(6)
Except as provided in Sections
53G-10-103
and
53G-10-402
, each school may select
instructional materials and methods of teaching, that are supported by generally accepted
scientific standards of evidence, that the school considers most appropriate to meet the
core standards for Utah public schools.
(7)
The state may exit any agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or
consortium that cedes control of the core standards for Utah public schools to any other
entity, including a federal agency or consortium, for any reason, including:
(a)
the cost of developing or implementing the core standards for Utah public schools;
(b)
the proposed core standards for Utah public schools are inconsistent with community
values; or
(c)
the agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or consortium:
(i)
was entered into in violation of Chapter 3, Part 8, Implementing Federal or
National Education Programs, or Title 63J, Chapter 5, Federal Funds Procedures
Act;
(ii)
conflicts with Utah law;
(iii)
requires Utah student data to be included in a national or multi-state database;
(iv)
requires records of teacher performance to be included in a national or multi-state
database; or
(v)
imposes curriculum, assessment, or data tracking requirements on home school or
private school students.
(8)
The state board shall:
(a)
submit a report in accordance with Section
53E-1-203
on the development and
implementation of the core standards for Utah public schools, including the time line
established for the review of the core standards for Utah public schools; and
(b)
ensure that the report described in Subsection
(8)(a)
includes the time line
established for the review of the core standards for Utah public schools by a
standards review committee and the recommendations of a standards review
committee established under Section
53E-4-203
.
Section 2. Section
53E-4-208
is enacted to read:
53E-4-208
Effective
07/01/26
. High-quality open educational resource
instructional materials for social studies and civics education.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Open education resource instructional material" means teaching, learning, and
research resources that are in the public domain or have been released under an
intellectual property license that allows for free use, reuse, modification, and sharing
with others, including full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming
videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support
access to knowledge.
(b)
"Utah core standards" means the standards described in Section
53E-4-202
.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision in this part, and subject to legislative
appropriation, the state board shall:
(a)
develop comprehensive open educational resource instructional materials for social
studies and civics education for students in kindergarten through grade 12 that:
(i)
align with Utah core standards for social studies, including the requirements of
Section
53G-10-302
;
(ii)
meet the instructional needs of students in kindergarten through grade 12 in a
manner suitable for the age and developmental level of students at each grade
level;
(iii)
provide accessibility to students with disabilities in compliance with federal and
state law; and
(iv)
are available in digital and, where appropriate, print formats;
(b)
ensure the open educational resource instructional materials include:
(i)
comprehensive instructional materials aligned with social studies core standards;
(ii)
teacher resources, including:
(A)
scopes and sequences;
(B)
topics by grade level;
(C)
text selection guides;
(D)
unit and lesson-level implementation guides;
(E)
daily lesson plans;
(F)
formative, interim, and summative assessments; and
(G)
professional development materials;
(iii)
student materials and resources, including:
(A)
student-facing instructional materials;
(B)
guided practice materials;
(C)
independent practice materials;
(D)
digital learning resources;
(E)
project and performance tasks;
(F)
other classroom supports; and
(G)
implementation guides to support LEAs in the adoption and use of the
materials;
(c)
establish quality standards and review processes for materials developed under this
section;
(d)
ensure that:
(i)
the state owns all intellectual property rights, including copyright, in the open
educational resource instructional materials developed under this section; and
(ii)
the open educational resource instructional materials are openly licensed under a
Creative Commons license or equivalent license to allow an LEA to use, adapt,
customize, and distribute the materials without charge; and
(e)
make the open educational resource instructional materials available through a
centralized digital platform accessible to all LEAs and the public.
(3)
In developing open educational resource instructional materials under this section, the
state board shall:
(a)
consult with LEAs, teachers, curriculum specialists, and other education stakeholders;
(b)
establish timelines for phased development and implementation;
(c)
provide opportunities for pilot programs and field testing before statewide release;
(d)
ensure ongoing review and updates to maintain alignment with Utah core standards
and educational best practices;
(e)
ensure open education resource instructional materials are available to all students,
parents, classroom teachers, and LEAs in this state free of charge, except for a fee for
the printing or shipping of the material; and
(f)
review and update the open educational resource instructional materials whenever the
state board updates or revises social studies core standards to ensure continued
alignment with the revised standards and the requirements of Section
53G-10-302
.
(4)
The state board may not require an LEA to adopt or use the open educational resource
instructional materials developed under this section.
(5)
The state board may:
(a)
make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act, to:
(i)
establish standards and procedures for contracting under this section;
(ii)
establish quality standards and suitability rubrics for open educational resource
instructional materials developed under this section;
(iii)
establish procedures for LEA access to and use of the open educational resource
instructional materials; and
(iv)
establish procedures for ongoing review, updates, and maintenance of the open
educational resource instructional materials;
(b)
upon request, report to the Education Interim Committee regarding:
(i)
progress on curriculum development under this section, including timelines and
milestones;
(ii)
expenditures from appropriations under this section;
(iii)
LEA adoption and use of the open educational resource instructional materials;
(iv)
feedback from LEAs, teachers, and other stakeholders, including parents; and
(v)
plans and progress for updates, maintenance, and expansion of the open
educational resource instructional materials.
Section 3. Section
53E-4-303
is amended to read:
53E-4-303
Effective
07/01/26
. Utah standards assessments -- Administration --
Review committee.
(1)
As used in this section
,
:

(a)
"computer
"Computer
adaptive assessment" means an assessment that measures the
range of a student's ability by adapting to the student's responses, selecting more
difficult or less difficult questions based on the student's responses.
(b)
"Founding document" means a document foundational to the United States or Utah,
including:
(i)
the Declaration of Independence;
(ii)
the United States Constitution;
(iii)
the Federalist Papers;
(iv)
the Utah Constitution; and
(v)
other significant historical documents that shaped American or Utah
constitutional history and civic thought.
(2)
The state board shall:
(a)
adopt a standards assessment that:
(i)
measures a student's proficiency in:
(A)
mathematics for students in each of grades 3 through 8 until July 1, 2026, and
3 through 10 after July 1, 2026;
(B)
English language arts for students in each of grades 3 through 8 until July 1,
2026, and 3 through 10 after July 1, 2026;
(C)
science for students in each of grades 4 through 8 until July 1, 2026, and 4
through 10 after July 1, 2026; and
(D)
writing for students in at least grades 5 and 8; and
(ii)
except for the writing measurement described in Subsection
(2)(a)(i)(D)
, is a
computer adaptive assessment;
and
(b)
ensure that an assessment described in Subsection
(2)(a)
is:
(i)
a criterion referenced assessment;
(ii)
administered online;
(iii)
aligned with the core standards for Utah public schools; and
(iv)
adaptable to personalized, competency-based learning, as that term is defined in
Section
53F-5-501
.
; and
(c)
beginning in the 2028-2029 school year, ensure that the English language arts
assessment described in Subsection
(2)(a)(i)(B)
integrates passages and questions
drawn from founding documents and historical texts by:
(i)
embedding within the English language arts assessment reading passages,
excerpts, and questions drawn from:
(A)
founding documents as defined in Subsection
(1)(b)
;
(B)
historical speeches and writings referenced in Section
53G-10-302
; and
(C)
other primary historical sources;
(ii)
ensuring that the passages and questions described in Subsection
(2)(c)(i)
are
age-appropriate and aligned with grade-level English language arts standards; and
(iii)
ensuring that the passages and questions described in Subsection
(2)(c)(i)
assess
English language arts skills, including reading comprehension, analysis, and
interpretation of complex texts.
(3)
A school district or charter school shall annually administer the standards assessment
adopted by the state board under Subsection
(2)
to all students in the subjects and grade
levels described in Subsection
(2)
.
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(4)(b)
, a student's score on the standards
assessment adopted under Subsection
(2)
may not be considered in determining:
(i)
the student's academic grade for a course; or
(ii)
whether the student may advance to the next grade level.
(b)
A teacher may use a student's score on the standards assessment adopted under
Subsection
(2)
to improve the student's academic grade for or demonstrate the
student's competency within a relevant course.
(5)
(a)
The state board shall establish a committee consisting of 15 parents of Utah public
education students to review all standards assessment questions.
(b)
The committee established in Subsection
(5)(a)
shall include the following parent
members:
(i)
five members appointed by the chair of the state board;
(ii)
five members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives or the
speaker's designee; and
(iii)
five members appointed by the president of the Senate or the president's designee.
(c)
The state board shall provide staff support to the parent committee.
(d)
The term of office of each member appointed in Subsection
(5)(b)
is four years.
(e)
The chair of the state board, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
president of the Senate shall adjust the length of terms to stagger the terms of
committee members so that approximately half of the committee members are
appointed every two years.
(f)
No member may receive compensation or benefits for the member's service on the
committee.
Section 4. Section
53G-10-302
is amended to read:
53G-10-302
Effective
07/01/26
. Instruction in American history and
government -- Study and posting of American heritage documents -- Comparative
instruction on government systems.
(1)
As used in this section
,
:

(a)
"American Exceptionalism" means the unique characteristics and achievements of
the United States, including:
(i)
the nation's founding principles of individual liberty, limited government, and
natural rights;
(ii)
the enduring strength and adaptability of the United States Constitution;
(iii)
the protection of individual freedoms and religious liberty;
(iv)
economic prosperity through free market capitalism and entrepreneurship;
(v)
the promotion of human rights and representative self-government globally; and
(vi)
the contributions of American innovation, culture, and civil society to human
progress and flourishing.
(b)
"Communist government or ideology" means a system of government, governance,
or political theory that has historically resulted in widespread human rights abuses,
economic failure, and totalitarian oppression, characterized by:
(i)
collective or state ownership of property and the means of production;
(ii)
centralized economic planning;
(iii)
single-party authoritarian rule; or
(iv)
suppression of individual rights and liberties in favor of collective goals.
(c)
"Ten Commandments" means the Decalogue, known as the Ten Commandments, as
recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
(2)
The Legislature
recognizes
finds
that
a proper understanding of American history and
government is essential to good citizenship, and that the public schools are the primary
public institutions charged with responsibility for assisting children and youth in gaining
that understanding.
:
(a)
under Article III of the Utah Constitution, the Legislature has an irrevocable
obligation to make laws for the establishment and maintenance of a system of public
schools open to all children of the state;
(b)
the Utah Constitution's Preamble declares the purpose "to secure and perpetuate the
principles of free government";
(c)
fulfilling these constitutional duties requires that a student receive effective
instruction in American history and government; and
(d)
such instruction is essential to good citizenship, and the public schools are the
primary public institutions charged with responsibility for assisting children and
youth in gaining that understanding.
(3)
(a)
The state board and local school boards shall periodically review school curricula
and activities to ensure that effective instruction in American history and government
is taking place in the public schools.
(b)
The boards shall solicit public input as part of the review process.
(c)
Instruction in American history and government shall include a study of:
(i)
forms of government, such as a republic, a pure democracy, a monarchy, and an
oligarchy;
(ii)
political philosophies and economic systems, such as socialism, individualism,
and free market capitalism;
and
(iii)
the United States' form of government, a compound constitutional republic
.
;
(iv)
the roles and responsibilities of government officials, including:
(A)
statewide elected officials;
(B)
county officials;
(C)
mayors and city council members;
(D)
school board members; and
(E)
other local governmental officials;
(v)
the voting process and election laws of this state, including the caucus and
convention system;
(vi)
the purpose and benefits of the Electoral College system in presidential elections,
including:
(A)
how the system protects state sovereignty;
(B)
ensures broad geographic representation; and
(C)
maintains the federal nature of the republic;
(vii)
the eligibility requirements to run for elected office at the federal, state, and
local levels;
(viii)
parliamentary procedure, including the basic principles of Robert's Rules of
Order;
(ix)
the elected officials who represent students at each level of government;
(x)
American Exceptionalism and the unique contributions of the United States to
human liberty and prosperity; and
(xi)
comparative instruction on government systems as described in Subsections
(8)

and (9).
(4)
School curricula and activities shall include a thorough study of historical documents
and principles such as:
(a)
the Declaration of Independence;
(b)
the United States Constitution;
(c)
the national motto;
(d)
the pledge of allegiance;
(e)
the national anthem;
(f)
the Mayflower Compact;
(g)
the writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founders and the
Presidents of the United States
;
, including:
(i)
the entirety of George Washington's Farewell Address;
(ii)
speeches of Abraham Lincoln;
(iii)
Frederick Douglass's speeches, including "The Meaning of July Fourth for the
Negro" and "What the Black Man Wants";
(iv)
the Seneca Falls Declaration;
(v)
Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, "I Have a Dream"; and
(vi)
the Letter from Birmingham Jail;
(h)
organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial, Revolutionary, Federalist, and
post Federalist eras
;
, including:
(i)
the Articles of Confederation;
(ii)
the Iroquois Constitution;
(iii)
selected passages from the Federalist and Antifederalist Papers, including
Federalist Papers Numbers 10 and 51; and
(iv)
excerpts from the Lincoln-Douglas Debates;
(i)
United States Supreme Court decisions;
(j)
the Ten Commandments;
(k)
the Magna Carta;
(l)
Acts of the United States Congress, including the published text of the Congressional
Record;
and
(m)
United States treaties
.
;
(n)
excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America;
(o)
the Bible, including the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament, as literary and
historical texts that have influenced American constitutional history, civic thought,
and cultural development;
(p)
in accordance with Subsection
(11)
, when teaching Utah history, an LEA may
include study of religious beliefs and texts that influenced Utah's early settlers,
presented in an objective, academic manner that examines historical impact; and
(q)
the Utah Constitution and other founding documents and influential writings that
shaped American constitutional history and civic thought.
(5)
To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with, American historical
documents, public schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies
of, those documents in school classrooms and common areas as appropriate.
(6)
There shall be no content-based censorship of American history and heritage documents
referred to in this section due to their religious or cultural nature.
(7)
Public schools shall display "In God we trust," which is declared in 36 U.S.C. 302 to be
the national motto of the United States, in one or more prominent places within each
school building.
(8)
Beginning in the 2028-2029 school year, the state board shall ensure that social studies
core standards for students in grade 4 through grade 12 include instruction that compares
and contrasts the principles and outcomes of the United States constitutional republic
with those of pure democracies, communist governments and ideologies, and other
autocratic government systems.
(9)
The state board shall ensure that the core standards for instruction comparing
government systems include instruction on:
(a)
American Exceptionalism and the founding principles of the United States
constitutional republic, including:
(i)
individual liberty and natural rights;
(ii)
limited government and separation of powers;
(iii)
federalism;
(iv)
the rule of law;
(v)
free market economics and private property rights;
(vi)
representative democracy and civic participation; and
(vii)
why the Founders rejected pure democracy, including ancient Greek examples;
(b)
the fundamental characteristics of communist governments and ideologies, including:
(i)
collective ownership and centralized economic control;
(ii)
single-party authoritarian rule;
(iii)
suppression of individual rights and political dissent;
(iv)
state control of information and media; and
(v)
centralized economic planning;
(c)
the history and tactics of communist movements in the United States, including:
(i)
the spread of communist ideology during the 20th century;
(ii)
efforts to infiltrate American institutions; and
(iii)
the response of the United States government and civil society to communist
movements;
(d)
historical crimes, human rights violations, and economic failures caused by
communist regimes, including:
(i)
the Cultural Revolution in China;
(ii)
the Holodomor in Ukraine;
(iii)
the Great Terror in the Soviet Union;
(iv)
the Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge;
(v)
the human rights violations and economic failures of the Cuban communist
regime;
(vi)
the violence and destabilization caused by communist guerrilla movements in
Latin America; and
(vii)
the systematic persecution of religious groups and suppression of religious
practice under communist regimes; and
(e)
comparative outcomes demonstrating the benefits of constitutional republicanism
through comparison with communist, pure democratic, and other autocratic systems,
including:
(i)
economic prosperity and innovation;
(ii)
protection of human rights and individual freedoms;
(iii)
political stability and peaceful transfer of power;
(iv)
quality of life and opportunity for citizens; and
(v)
contributions to global peace and prosperity.
(10)
In accordance with Subsection
(11)
, instruction in American history and government
shall include study of the historical and philosophical context in which the founding
documents were created, including:
(a)
analysis of religious and philosophical references contained in founding documents,
including:
(i)
the reference in the Declaration of Independence to "Nature's God," "Creator,"
"Supreme Judge of the world," and "divine Providence";
(ii)
religious and philosophical influences on concepts of natural rights and limited
government as reflected in primary source documents from the founding era;
(iii)
the debates over religious liberty and the relationship between religion and
government as reflected in founding era documents, including writings on the
First Amendment; and
(iv)
the study of the Bible as a foundational literary text where narratives, moral
teachings, and language have shaped American culture, law, and political
discourse, including:
(A)
specific biblical passages cited or alluded to in founding documents;
(B)
biblical narratives and concepts that shaped colonial American political
thought;
(C)
the use of biblical language and imagery in political rhetoric of the founding
era and throughout American history;
(D)
biblical influences on concepts of covenant, law, justice, and liberty in
American constitutional thought; and
(E)
how different religious traditions interpreted and applied biblical texts to
questions of government and civic duty;
(b)
comparative analysis of different philosophical traditions that influenced American
founding thought, including classical republicanism, Enlightenment philosophy,
Protestant and Catholic thought, deism, natural law theory, and other intellectual
traditions; and
(c)
the development of American principles of religious liberty, including:
(i)
the First Amendment's protections for religious exercise and prohibitions on
religious establishment;
(ii)
state constitutional provisions on religious liberty; and
(iii)
how these principles have been interpreted and applied throughout American
history.
(11)
An LEA shall ensure instruction provided under Subsections
(4)(p)
and
(10)
:
(a)
is presented in an objective, academic manner appropriate to the study of history,
government, and literature;
(b)
neither promotes nor disparages any particular religious or nonreligious viewpoint;
(c)
focuses on religious texts' literary forms, historical context, and documented
influence on American civic thought and Utah's settlement history rather than on
theological or doctrinal questions;
(d)
may use multiple translations of religious texts for comparative literary and historical
analysis;
(e)
acknowledges diverse interpretations of religious texts and their application to
political thought and settlement history; and
(f)
for instruction under Subsection
(10)
, is integrated with the study of founding
documents and principles.
(12)
The state board shall ensure that each review and revision of social studies core
standards includes the requirements of this section, including instruction on American
Exceptionalism, comparative government systems, founding documents, and the
historical and literary context of American civic thought.
(13)
An LEA shall implement curriculum and instructional materials that align with the
social studies core standards established under this section and may utilize the open
educational resource instructional materials developed under Section
53E-4-208
.
(14)
Nothing in this section prohibits an LEA from exceeding the minimum standards
established by the state board under this section.
Section 5. Section
53G-10-307
is amended to read:
53G-10-307
Effective
07/01/26
. Art or fine arts education -- Definition -- Credit
requirements.
(1)
As used in this section, "art" or "fine arts" means:
(a)
courses, instruction, or experiences in visual arts, music, dance, or theater;
(b)
courses, instruction, or experiences in applied crafts and technical arts that
incorporate artistic elements, including:
(i)
woodworking;
(ii)
metalworking and welding;
(iii)
traditional handcrafts;
(iv)
architectural trades, including carpentry, plumbing, masonry, and stonework;
(v)
automotive design and customization;
(vi)
digital design and animation; or
(vii)
other similar courses that combine technical skill with artistic expression; and
(c)
other forms of creative or interpretive expression as an LEA determines.
(2)
For purposes of meeting art or fine arts credit requirements the state board establishes,
the
an
LEA shall
accept for an art or fine arts credit any
determine whether a
course
listed in Subsection
(1)
that
meets art or fine arts credit requirements and shall accept
the course for an art or fine arts credit if the LEA determines the course
:
(a)
incorporates artistic or creative elements in the curriculum;
(b)
includes instruction in principles of design, form, or aesthetic expression; and
(c)
provides students opportunities for creative expression and artistic application of
technical skills.
(3)
Nothing in this section:
(a)
prevents an LEA from:
(i)
establishing the LEA's own additional criteria for
artistic and creative elements in
courses accepted for fine arts credit
courses accepted for fine arts credit
; or
(ii)
offering additional courses for fine arts credit; or
(b)
requires an LEA to offer all courses listed in Subsection
(1)
.
Section 6.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
July 1, 2026
.
2-4-26 10:37 AM