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Utah Parents United Official Statement Supporting American Founders and Constitution Month!

9/10/2023

 
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Last Thursday, August 31, 2023, a Press Conference was held in the Capitol Rotunda kicking off September as American Founders and Constitution Month. 


Governor Cox issued a proclamation declaring the State-wide focus. His proclamation included recognizing that it is essential for our rising generation and citizens of all ages to understand our history and form of government so it can be honored and perpetuated; the fact that the genius of the Constitution is federalism, which is its ability to decentralize power between the state and federal government; and an invitation to all public and private education institutions to recognize and observe September as American Founders and Constitution Month by reading from the Constitution and original documents and to teach principles from the United States Constitution. 

He ended with three key invitations that every one of us can participate in this month: (1) flying our national flag and engaging in patriotic activities, (2) educating ourselves about our U.S. Constitution, and (3) acknowledging and expressing gratitude to God for His hand in our nation’s origin and destiny, thereby qualifying us for the promise of the psalmist: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

Among other speakers, Superintendent Sydnee Dickson shared the new Constitution Fitness Award recently finalized by the USBE that will apply to grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. This innovative new program correlates with current civic standards for each grade and gives students the opportunity to earn badges each year as they complete specific Constitution-related requirements. 

We’d like to specifically thank Representative Keven Stratton and Senator Ron Winterton for their work sponsoring HB 179, which provided the legislation to designate September as American Founders and Constitution Month, and specifically highlight September 17 as Constitution Day for the State of Utah. We are grateful for their important work to invite all adults and children to read from and be taught the principles of the United States Constitution on an ongoing basis.
​

At Utah Parents United, we applaud efforts to promote and increase awareness of our nation’s Constitution and to help our children understand the importance of the foundation of our country. We encourage parents to take advantage of the many events happening this month, and to take time with your children to discuss the importance of the Founding Fathers and Mothers and documents of our country!

23% tax increase by Weber School District

8/3/2022

 
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Thank you to Stewart Campbell, our Weber chapter leader, for the below information.
Weber parents, did you know that on the average Weber resident pays over 50% of their property taxes to Weber School District? Did you know they are proposing an increase this Wednesday evening? If you have opinions on how WSD should be spending your tax dollars in public education, come to the Truth in Taxation Hearing. The Board meets at 6pm and then the taxation hearing happens at 7pm. Come attend both and let your voice be heard.
WEDNESDAY, Aug 3, 2022
Weber School District Truth In Taxation Hearing will be held at Weber School District Main Office
5320 S Adams Ave Parkway
South Ogden, UT 84405


Make sure to BE EARLY to sign up for public comment.

HB331 SCHOOL CHOICE will be uncircled at 11am

2/28/2022

 

BIG DAY TODAY MONDAY FEB 28th

  • HB 331 will be uncircled at 11AM, Monday Feb 28 and be voted on.
  • Join us at the capitol at 11am in the house chambers.
  • Don't forget to text your house representative and ask them to support HB331
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
WATCH FLOOR DEBATE
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READ BILL

HB422 - Is allowing 16-17 year olds to vote in school board elections a good idea?

2/25/2022

 
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READ BILL HERE
Utah Parents United Opposes HB 422 which allows a School Board to decide if they want 16-17 Year Old Children Voting in School Board Elections. 

What problem are they trying to solve?  Young voters are not engaged in the democratic process.  During the pandemic  policies were being put in place that had the greatest impact on their lives and they had no voice. 

Is this the best way to solve this problem? NO!  If we want younger voters involved in the democratic process it is the responsibility of our local government and parties to engage 18-year-olds through programs and groups like the Young Republican,  Democrat, and Libertarian clubs. A college campus is not a politically neutral zone. What a great place to have these types of debates and conversations. 

By state law high schools are to remain politically neutral. By involving students in elections we risk jeopardizing that neutral environment. Although school board positions are non-partisan the issues are highly political. High Schools are not appropriate places for potential campaigning. It's hard enough for adults not to vote on name recognition. For most 16 -17 year Olds there is an even greater risk for that to occur. 

If kids are going to vote then they need to be legally responsible for their actions. If they're not old enough to be legally responsible for their actions they are not responsible enough to vote.

16 and  17 year-olds have a responsibility to their academics and need to focus on graduating high school.
 
What we suggest instead: The USBE is currently revising our social studies curriculum and can add more information about the voting process, how we vote, why we vote and encourage high school students to look forward to when they turn 18 and are legally eligible to vote in their first election.
​
School Boards can create opportunities for students to more fully participate in local school board meetings and share their perspectives. They can offer to run assemblies or create informative material to be passed out at the high schools to educate students on how their voices can be heard.

HB374S1 - Prohibits Pornography in Utah School Libraries ​

2/22/2022

 

CALL TO ACTION

Schools should PROTECT KIDS - not porn!
Help get porn out of schools by emailing
your reps to "VOTE YES on HB0374"

FIND YOUR REP HERE
​Attend the committee meeting 
Thursday 8AM (Feb 24) to show your support for this legislation.
Senate Bldg, Room 20
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Why is HB374 needed?

Read HB374 Here
Utah Parents are deeply concerned that materials portraying and depicting “sexually explicit conduct” as well as “sexual conduct” as defined in the Utah Criminal Code (UCA 76-5b-103 and 76-10-1201) are currently found in books and materials in K-12 schools throughout the state.
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WARNING EXPLICIT CONTENT:
Please visit the website www.StopUtahPorn.com.
You will be able to see for yourself examples of “Sensitive Materials” located in Utah’s K-12 schools.
SEE WHAT HAS BEEN
​FOUND IN UTAH SCHOOL LIBRARIES

What does HB374 do?

  1. HB374 prohibits from Utah’s K-12 schools all materials that describe or depict“sexually explicit conduct” as defined in Utah’s Criminal Code (Sexual Exploitation) 76-5b-103 and “sexual conduct” as defined in Utah’s Criminal Code (Pornography) 76-10-1201. 
  2. Excludes approved health curriculum under 53G-10-402, medical courses, and other materials specifically exempted by the state board. 
  3. Requires the state board to consult with the Utah Attorney General’s office to provide guidance and training to schools regarding what constitutes “sensitive materials” under HB374 which are prohibited from Utah K-12 schools. 
  4. Requires the state board and LEAs to report to the Education and Government Operations Interims Committees at or before the November interim meetings on rules and policies to implement HB374.
BILL NAME:
HB374
BILL SPONSOR:
Rep. Ivory, Ken
BILL LANGUAGE/STATUS:
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0374.html

To Be Voted On This Afternoon!

2/22/2022

 
3 important bills are  being voted on at 2:00 today in the House of Representatives. Please text your House Representative Now and let him/her know how you would like him/her to vote!
  • HB60 (Vaccine Passports)
  • HB337 (An official Government Position to Support Parents and Teachers)
  • HB209 (Protects Utah from Federal Government Overreach) 

Find your House Representative Here: le.utah.gov

(Click on "Find My Legislator," enter your address and click on your House Representative. Then text him/her how you feel!
FIND YOUR REP HERE
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HB209 Protects Utah from Federal Government Overreach

2/13/2022

 

CALL TO ACTION

Email the House Government Operations Committee Members about HB209
HB209 is in Committee Tuesday, February 22 at 8:00am
​House Building - Room 30 (see map)
SCROLL DOWN FOR REP CONTACT INFO

HB209 Bill Highlights

We are currently witnessing encroachment of the Federal Government into the Utah Education System. When Utah takes grant money from the Federal Government, the Federal Government then has control over how that money is used and starts to dictate what our teachers teach through that money. This bill would also "create the Federal Program Reserve Account to augment or replace federal funding that is rejected by the Legislature" to help make Utah self-reliant, allowing Utah to continue to teach its own curriculum and run its own programs without relying on Federal Money.

​
HB209 ensures that the powers of the state are not overrun by the federal government. Federal money has strings attached and we need someone to watch when that funding violates Utah law, so we can reject it.
READ BILL HERE

Call to Action!

Email the House Government Operations Committee  Members about HB209

HB209 is in Committee Tuesday, February 22 at 8:00am
​House Building - Room 30 (see map)
WATCH COMMITTEE METING HERE
GIVE ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT AT MEETING
Name
Phone
Email
Cory Maloy, Chair
801-477-0019
corymaloy@le.utah.gov
Norman Thurston,
​Vice Chair
801-477-5348
normthurston64@gmail.com
Walt Brooks
435-817-3530
wbrooks@le.utah.gov
Jennifer Dailey Provost
385-321-7827
jdprovost@le.utah.gov
Phil Lyman
435-459-2800
plyman@le.utah.gov
Michael Peterson
435-770-6925
mpetersen@le.utah.gov
Val Peterson
801-224-4473
vpeterson@le.utah.gov
Candice Pierucci
385-414-1488
cpierucci@le.utah.gov
Stephanie Pitcher
385-272-8032
spitcher@le.utah.gov
Steve Waldrip
801-389-9329
swaldrip@le.utah.gov
Douglas Welton
385-999-0403
dwelton@le.utah.gov
Bill Name
HB209
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Ivory, Ken
Bill Language/Status:
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0209.html
Final Result:
Value

An Official Government Position to Support Parents & Teachers: HB337

2/11/2022

 

CALL TO ACTION

Email/Text the House Government Operations Committee

HB337 will be voted on in the House Government Operations Committee, Tuesday, February 22 at 8AM
HOUSE BUILDING - ROOM 30

scroll down to find
​reps contact info

Bill Decription:

This Bill creates a position to help parents and teachers who need help advocating for the needs of their children and students. This "Ombudsman" is a legal expert who can help parents navigate Utah Code and understand what the appropriate course of action is, or what help is needed given their situation.

This Ombudsman will also make "recommendations to eliminate barriers and obstacles to meaningful parent and community involvement in public education."
READ HB377 Here

CALL TO ACTION

  • Email the Committee members to let them know your thoughts about HB337.
  • ​HB337 will be voted on in committee, Tuesday, February 22 at 8AM
  • House Building - Room 30

House Government Operations Committee Members: 

Cory Maloy, Chair
801-477-0019
corymaloy@le.utah.gov


Norman Thurston, ​Vice Chair
801-477-5348
normthurston64@gmail.com

Walt Brooks
435-817-3530
wbrooks@le.utah.gov

Jennifer Dailey Provost
385-321-7827
jdprovost@le.utah.gov

Phil Lyman
435-459-2800plyman@le.utah.gov

Michael Peterson
435-770-6925
mpetersen@le.utah.gov

Val Peterson
801-224-4473
vpeterson@le.utah.gov

Candice Pierucci
385-414-1488
cpierucci@le.utah.gov

Stephanie Pitcher
385-272-8032
spitcher@le.utah.gov

Steve Waldrip
801-389-9329
swaldrip@le.utah.gov

Douglas Welton
385-999-0403
dwelton@le.utah.gov
Bill Name:
HB337
Bill Sponsor(s):
Rep. Lisonbee, Karianne
Bill Language/Status:
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0337.html
Final Vote:
 

Contacting Legislators - Do's and Don'ts

2/7/2022

 

What to do:

  • Be polite
  • Talk about policy, not personality
  • Include your address to show you are indeed a constituent (the legislator will want to verify that you are a constituent)
  • Be brief. Try to keep your email between 3-5 sentences
  • Include the Bill Number and how you would like them to vote in the subject line (i.e. "Please Vote YES on HB 60")

What NOT to do:

  • DO NOT attack your Legislator. Do not call them names, do not threaten them, do not attack intelligence and do not make it personal.
  • DO NOT send form letters. Legislators tell us over and over again that form letters are not effective.
  • DO NOT email all legislators telling them you are a constituent. You should only tell a Legislator you are their constituent if you are indeed their constituent.
  • DO NOT send attachments to your email. Legislators have been advised by their staff to not open attachments. 




HB331 - Does one-size-fit-all in education?

2/7/2022

 

CALL TO ACTION!

SHOULD BE VOTED ON TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
Text your house representative now!
FIND YOUR REP HERE

WATCH HOUSE FLOOR DEBATE HERE

HB331 Bill Highlights

  • Establishes the Hope Scholarship which allows parents to use state money to customize their child's education
  • Open to all Utah students
  • Used in other states with great success. 
  • Does not impose regulations on private school or homeschool communities. 
  • Allows parents to use money for homeschool, private school, online curriculums, homeschool pods, private teachers, etc.
  • Income based - Scholarship funds can be anywhere from $3,000 - $8,000 depending on income. 

Description

READ HB 331 HERE
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Every Utah student is unique, and every student deserves an education that will prepare them for a bright future.

The Utah Hope Scholarship would allow every student to access the school, services, and tools that best meet their individual learning needs. Families would be able to apply scholarship funds ($3,000 – $8,000 depending on income) towards educational expenses such as homeschool costs, tutoring, education pods, online programs, private schools, etc.
​
The past two years have shown us Utah students need more options. The Utah Hope Scholarship will ensure that every kid regardless of income or zip code can get the quality education he/she deserves.

Utah Parents United supports HB331 and believes that parents are the primary stakeholders when it comes to their child education. The Hope Scholarship allows parents the freedom to take charge of their child's education by giving them expanded education options that will best support the unique needs of their child.

Text BILLS2022 to 53445 to receive text updates on HB0331

CALL TO ACTION:

SHOULD BE VOTED ON TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
Text your house representative now!
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE HERE

WATCH HOUSE FLOOR DEBATE HERE

MORE INFORMATION TO CONSIDER


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DOWNLOAD PDF
Bill Name
HB0331
Bill Sponsors
Rep. Pierucci, Candice B.
Sen. Cullimore, Kirk A.
Bill Language/Status
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0331.html
Final Vote
 
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      • SEX ED
      • WHAT IS CSE
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    • ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION >
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    • SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO >
      • FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
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