(1) 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, am@AQong other objectives: (a) communicate effectively, both verbally and through written communication; (b) apply mathematics; (c) access, analyze, and apply information; and (d) understand history and government as described in Section 53G-10-302. (2) 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: (a) a particular curriculum or instructional material; or (b) a model curriculum or instructional material. (3) 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; (b) include artificial intelligence standards in core computer science standards that educate a student on: (i) artificial intelligence generally; and (ii) the appropriate use of artificial intelligence as a tool; (c) adopt computer science standards and objectives that address: (i) digital skills concepts; (ii) age-appropriate social media literacy and healthy usage strategies, including recognition of social media's impact on mental health and civic discourse; (iii) artificial intelligence awareness and ethical interaction, including understanding artificial intelligence's role in information filtering and decision-making; (iv) screen-time management and mental health considerations in digital environments; (v) technology that relates to digital responsibility, privacy, and security; and (vi) critical evaluation of digital information sources and media literacy skills necessary for informed digital responsibility; and (d) align with each other the core standards for Utah public schools and the assessments described in Section 53E-4-303. (4) The basic knowledge, skills, and competencies identified in accordance with Subsection (3)(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; (b) mathematics, including basic computational skills; and (c) beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, social studies, including history and government as described in Section 53G-10-302. (5) 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. (6) 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. (7) 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. (8) 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. (9) 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 (9)(a) includes the time line established for the review of the core standards for Utah public schools by a standards advisory committee and the recommendations of a standards advisory committee established under Section 53E-4-203.
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