Utah State Board of Education

State Board Reviews Federal ESEA Waivers to Balance Flexibility and Accountability in Utah Schools

November 2025

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) continued its review of federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waivers during its November meeting, focusing on how these waivers could give Utah schools greater flexibility while maintaining transparency and equity for all students.

What Are ESEA Waivers?

ESEA waivers enable states to request flexibility from certain federal requirements, allowing them to design accountability systems and programs that better align with state and local priorities. When used responsibly, these waivers can help Utah educators make data-driven decisions, improve instruction, and better serve diverse student populations.

However, board members emphasized that flexibility must be balanced with strong accountability measures to ensure consistent oversight and protect vulnerable student groups.

How the Board Is Evaluating Potential Waivers

To determine which waivers would most effectively benefit Utah schools, USBE staff are using a set of guiding questions focused on student outcomes, transparency, and monitoring. Each potential waiver is being reviewed based on:

1. It has the potential to improve student academic achievement.
2. The methods for monitoring and evaluating its effectiveness.
3. How student populations would continue to receive support.
4. How would transparency in reporting student performance be maintained or improved?

Each waiver is also being analyzed for its overall flexibility level and alignment with state educational goals.

Next Steps

The Board will distribute the list of proposed waivers to USBE committees for detailed analysis and recommendations. These committees will identify which waivers should be pursued, modified, or discontinued, and then present their findings to the full Board for approval.

The review process aims to ensure that Utah’s approach to federal flexibility supports improved student outcomes, responsible use of resources, and continued public transparency.

State Board Finance Committee Advances Rules to Strengthen Data Accuracy, School Funding Transparency, and Parent Involvement

The Utah State Board of Education’s Finance Committee met on November 7 to review and advance several key administrative rules aimed at improving how Utah’s public schools manage data, use School LAND Trust funds, and engage families in decision-making. Each rule passed out of committee (two unanimously and one with one abstention) and will move forward for full board consideration in December.

R277-484: Data Standards

Utah’s education data systems are getting a long-overdue upgrade. The new rule replaces older databases with the Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS), designed to make educator and student records—such as credentials, assignments, and compensation—more accurate and transparent.

The goal is to reduce reporting errors, ensure fairness in funding and evaluation, and provide a clearer picture of how resources are allocated across districts. While the transition will mean new data-entry requirements and deadlines for some school staff, the long-term benefits include more reliable information and stronger accountability in how schools are funded and supported.

R277-477: School LAND Trust Program

Revisions to the School LAND Trust Program rule tighten how schools plan, use, and report their trust land dollars. The updates establish clear spending deadlines, limit the amount of funding schools can carry over from year to year, and require that projects align directly with academic goals.

For educators, this means School LAND Trust funds should be used more strategically to support classroom learning and student achievement. However, the rule also introduces additional administrative requirements, so schools will need to carefully plan their spending and documentation to remain compliant.

R277-491: School Community Councils

The updated School Community Councils rule makes it easier for parents to participate in local school governance by allowing online or mail-in ballots for elections. It also clarifies the responsibilities of principals and council chairs to maintain smooth operations.

Importantly, the rule gives schools with low enrollment or unique challenges the option to request partial or full exemptions from forming a council—while still maintaining access to trust land funds. While this flexibility supports smaller schools, educators note the importance of preserving strong parent and teacher voices in all schools to ensure transparency and collaboration.

Next Steps

All three rules now advance to the full Utah State Board of Education for final consideration. The UEA will continue monitoring these discussions to ensure that updates support transparency, fairness, and educator input at every stage.

Standards and Assessment Committee Advances Updates on AI Policy, and Math Revisions

The Utah State Board of Education’s Standards and Assessment Committee met in November to review proposed updates across multiple areas, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) course standards, instructional materials for child sexual abuse and human trafficking prevention, regulatory updates, artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and ongoing math standards revisions.

While several rule amendments and materials were approved to move forward to the full board, others will be returned to the committee in December for further refinement and review before being considered by the full board.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards

The committee reviewed 39 CTE courses as part of the annual standards update. Notable revisions included:

• Digital Media: Addition of a new strand on responsible AI use.
• Business Communications: Removal of “bias-free language” and addition of standards emphasizing credible sources and identifying AI-generated misinformation.
• Business Leadership: New standards addressing ethical workplace culture, with sections on onboarding and retention pulled for additional revisions.

Amended CTE standards were approved to advance to the full board for consideration.

Prevention Instructional Materials

Required by state law, instructional materials on child sexual abuse and human trafficking prevention were reviewed for compliance and effectiveness. Updates and recommendations focused on clarifying terminology and ensuring age-appropriate content. Materials from the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center and Lauren’s Kids were approved, while others, including Vector Solutions, were deferred for revision. A follow-up meeting will review updated submissions.

Regulatory Updates

Committee discussions included amendments to several administrative rules:

• Alternative Language Services (R277-716): Clarified oversight and program monitoring.
• Elementary & Secondary General Core (R277-700): Adjusted civics credit requirements and grade alignment to match recent legislation.
• Secondary School Completion & Diplomas (R277-705-2): Defined “most significant cognitive disabilities” to meet federal assessment requirements.
• Attendance & Funding (R277-419): Reviewed for clarity on instructional time definitions and audit alignment.

Artificial Intelligence in Education

The committee continued discussions on AI policy and educator training. A collaborative initiative with the state’s Office of AI Policy is shaping guidance on ethical AI use and academic integrity. More than 5,600 educators have participated in state-supported AI professional development, reaching over 31,000 students across the state.

Math Standards Revision

Work continues on the comprehensive math standards update. Following extensive public feedback, writers are revising the draft to improve clarity and provide multiple learning pathways. The updated draft is expected in mid-December, followed by a 30-day review period by the board.

Next Steps

Many of the reviewed items will return to the committee in December or advance to the full board for approval. The Utah Education Association will continue monitoring these discussions to ensure educators’ perspectives are represented as standards and policies evolve.