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  • Legislative Session 2023

Parents are the Primary Educators of their Children - SB157

2/4/2022

0 Comments

 

SB157 Highlights

  • Puts parental rights above any other consideration when it comes to education
  • Reasserts that the parents are the primary educators of their child as stated in the State Constitution.
  • Recognizes and exercises state sovereignty in public education
  • Grants parents the right to opt out or withdraw their children from objectionable matters and materials

​Description

READ BILL SB157 HERE
SB157 "puts parental rights above any other consideration when it comes to education” Sounds about right to us. 

This bill reasserts that the parents are the primary educators of their child as stated in the State Constitution. We welcome legislation that reinforces parental rights, holds education bodies accountable to State law, and untangles Utah from Federal regulation.
​
Contact your representative to let them know your thoughts.

Call to Action:

Contact the members of the Senate Education Committee and let them know your thoughts on SB0157
Contact committe members
Bill Name
SB157
Bill Sponsor
John Johnson
Bill Language/Status
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/SB0157.html
Final Result
 
CONTACT YOUR REPRESETATIVE
Paid for by Utah Parents United
0 Comments

Do Parents Have the Right to Give Verbal Public Comment at School Board Meetings? HB 135

2/1/2022

2 Comments

 

Bill Update!

***HB135 passed the House floor unanimously!***
HB135 will be voted on in the House tomorrow 2/10. Please contact your house representative and ask them to support required verbal comment time in school board meetings and other government committee meetings!
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
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Many school districts across the state of Utah do not allow reasonable time for parents to give public comment at school board meetings and some school districts do not allow for public comment at all. When asked for an increase in public comment time, Davis School District actually reduced the total amount of time allotted for public comment and eliminated public comment from some meetings altogether.
If you believe school boards should be required to allow for reasonable public comment time during school board meetings, please let your Legislators know! 

Be respectful and kind. Talk about policy, not people. Talk about any personal experiences you've had in being denied the opportunity to give public comment during a school board meeting.
READ HB 135 HERE
2 Comments

HB234

1/28/2022

0 Comments

 
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BILL HAS BEEN PAUSED

Read Bill Sponsor's statement below
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0 Comments

HB183

1/25/2022

0 Comments

 
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READ FULL BILL HERE
Bill Name:
HB183
Bill Description:
Suspends the test to stay requirement but leaves open the possibility of its use in the future if, in consultation with the Utah Department of Health, top state leaders jointly determine “that a variant of COVID-19 currently affecting the public education system is of a type that testing and isolation under a test to stay program would be effective in mitigating the harmful public health effects of the variant.”
Bill Code/Status:
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0183.html
Bill Sponsor(s):
Jordan Teuscher
Todd Weiler

What changed in the New Test To Stay Bill?
​
HB183, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, suspends the test to stay requirement but leaves open the possibility of its use in the future if, in consultation with the Utah Department of Health, top state leaders jointly determine “that a variant of COVID-19 currently affecting the public education system is of a type that testing and isolation under a test to stay program would be effective in mitigating the harmful public health effects of the variant.”

The legislation also creates another process for schools that want to pivot to online learning because they believe the risks related to in-person instruction temporarily outweigh the value of in-person instruction. In that case, a local school boards or charter school board would submit a request to the governor, Senate president, House speaker and the state superintendent of public instruction.

The application must include a specific time frame and the district’s or charter school’s plan to return to in-person learning. The four state leaders will confer and approve, or approve with modifications, the request, according to the bill.
It changed the 14 day case count to incubation period of the virus wich is currently 5 days.
​
We see this as a positive step. Our State Legislators have made in-person learning a huge priority. They made unmasking kids for better learning their priority and just overturned county mask mandates. This bill is another step to ensure children have their constitutional right to a quality education. School districts (like SLC) who have historically chosen not to prioritize in person learning can’t just shut down their schools. They have to prove the need. Remote learning is not equal to in-person learning. The legislature knows this and wants to keep schools open.
0 Comments

HB0079

1/25/2022

1 Comment

 
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Bill Name
HB0079
Description
Proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to allow the governor to appoint board members to the State School Board. Currently the board members are elected by their constituents.
Bill Code/Status
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0079.html
Bill Sponsor
Melissa Ballard
Update on HB0079 from Representative Ballard below.

​“HJR1 and HB79 were both numbered for the 2022 Legislative Session for the express purpose of spurring on continued dialogue amongst the public in Utah regarding Partisan State School Board elections. This legislation will NOT be voted on this year or taken to 2022 legislative committees. For an answer to authority and education governance questions, watch for 2022 legislation titled “Changes to Education Governance.” It gives parents more rights and clarifies the process they can utilize when they have concerns or problems to be addressed, including clarifying how they can appeal decisions at the local and state levels. In November 2022, the public will again vote for state school board members in a partisan race. These are good questions for an ongoing discussion about an important topic. -Representative Melissa Ballard”
1 Comment

HJR4

1/25/2022

0 Comments

 
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Bill Name:
HJR4
Bill Sponsor:
Ken Ivory
Link to Bill Code & Status
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HJR004.html
Synopsis:
PROPOSAL TO AMEND UTAH CONSTITUTION - LEGISLATIVE POWER RELATING TO CIVIL ACTION FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. If passed, issue will be put on the November Ballot for Utahns to vote on.
0 Comments

SB114 - Should parents be included in the curriculum adoption process?

1/25/2022

3 Comments

 

SB114 Bill Highlights

  • Requires local school boards and charter school governing boards to come up with a district level curriculum adoption process that involves parents. 
  • School board must have a 30 day public review period of all new curriculum. After review period, the school board or charter school governing board, must hold a public hearing before adopting the curriculum into use.

Bill Description

READ BILL HERE
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SB 114 would require a school district to involve parents in the review of recommended materials and curriculum at the district level. This does not apply to individual teachers or classrooms. This only applies to the adoption of district wide curriculum. It would also require school districts to make the recommended curriculum available for review for 30 calendar days to allow for public review.
There has been quite a bit of misinformation circulated about this bill falsely saying that it would adversely impact teachers. This bill does not apply to teachers or classrooms. It only applies to the curriculum adoption process at the district level. It does not create any addition work for teachers, nor does it have anything to do with teachers posting their individual curriculum for inspection. 

If you believe parents should be included in the curriculum review process, email or text your Representatives and tell them to "Vote Yes on SB 114". Let them know you are their constituent and that you want to see curriculum before it is adopted by the school district.

Call to Action:

Contact your Senator and ask them to support SB0114
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Bill Name:
SB0114
Bill Sponsor:
Sen. Fillmore, Lincoln
Bill Language/Status:
https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/SB0114.html
Final Vote:
 
3 Comments

****Salt Lake County Council emergency meeting****

1/12/2022

13 Comments

 
****Salt Lake County Parents: The County Council is holding an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss ending the mask mandate issued by the Health Department.*****

​Please email, text, or call to give your input. Be kind and concise. Explain that you are a constituent and how you want them to vote and why you want them to vote that way. If you want them to end the mandate you can use a subject line that says something like, "Please vote to end the mask mandate."
Salt Lake County Council Representatives:
Steve DeBry
SLDeBry@slco.org
(385) 468-7458
Laurie Stringham
LLStringham@slco.org
(385) 468-7451
Richard Snelgrove
RSnelgrove@slco.org
(385) 468-7452
Jim Bradley
JBradley@slco.org
(385) 468-7453
Arlyn Bradshaw
ARBradshaw@slco.org
(385) 468-7454
David Alvord
DAlvord@slco.org
(385) 468-7455
Aimee Winder Newton
ANewton@slco.org
(385) 468-7456
Ann Granato
AGranato@slco.org
(385) 468-7457
Dea Theodore
DHTheodore@slco.org
(385) 468-7459
13 Comments

Salt Lake County Health Department Issues a Mask Mandate

1/7/2022

34 Comments

 
**Utah Parents United OFFICIAL CALL TO ACTION** PLEASE SHARE
Share, Share, Share this!!!!

Salt Lake County Health Department issues a mask mandate for Salt Lake County effective tonight..  kslnewsradio.com/1962288

This will affect all schools in Salt Lake County school districts: Canyons, Granite, Murray, Jordan and Salt Lake City.

Everyone needs to text, email or call their Salt Lake County Council Representative to tell them to overturn the order IMMEDIATELY!

Salt Lake County Council Representatives:
Steve DeBry
SLDeBry@slco.org
(385) 468-7458

Laurie Stringham
LLStringham@slco.org
(385) 468-7451

Richard Snelgrove
RSnelgrove@slco.org
(385) 468-7452

Jim Bradley
JBradley@slco.org
(385) 468-7453

Arlyn Bradshaw
ARBradshaw@slco.org
(385) 468-7454

David Alvord
DAlvord@slco.org
(385) 468-7455

Aimee Winder Newton
ANewton@slco.org
(385) 468-7456

Ann Granato
AGranato@slco.org
(385) 468-7457

Dea Theodore
DHTheodore@slco.org
(385) 468-7459
34 Comments

100  Books in Question In Murray

12/8/2021

7 Comments

 
A rock star group of 30 parents stood up for their beliefs, as everyone in America is entitled to do. They put together this list of books and sent it to their district.

Here is the list they sent to the district:
https://docs.google.com/…/1g4eP3gAdrjB0beBbO_qCnxIJ3Mz…/edit

Here is the letter that was sent:

​Dear Administration:
We are cautiously optimistic that this email addresses an issue where administrators and parents can find mutual common ground and understanding. Prior to Canyons School District pulling some books from their libraries for further review based on obscene and sexually explicit content, we had begun compiling a list of books in Murray that also contain sexually explicit passages and pictures using the District's online catalog: https://destiny.murrayschools.org/. Soon we began to realize that we weren't just dealing with a handful of books - there are dozens and dozens of sexually explicit books in the libraries, especially Murray High, but also the other schools. The non-exhaustive list of over 100 books is attached. As you will see, the attachment contains quotes, passages, excerpts, scenes and pictures that are in many cases downright obscene and disgusting, contain graphic descriptions of rape, downplay pedophilia, encourage sexual obsession and pornography addiction, and groom children to question their gender. We stopped at about 100 or so books - only because we had to stop somewhere and we were tired of wading through filth.
The attached document lists many books, in MCSD libraries, that have no place in the hands of a child and attempt to normalize deviant behavior and attitudes. ****WARNING: THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT CONTAINS GRAPHIC AND EXPLICIT DESCRIPTIONS OF SEX, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
Our goal is not to ban books. We want children to expand their minds and have access to resources expressing many different viewpoints, cultures, and ideas. We don't want books removed just because we may disagree or dislike certain ideas, theories, or philosophies. However, at the end of the day, these are our children that we have entrusted into your care. It is our duty to protect them from pornography and explicit descriptions of rape, gratuitous sex, sex between teenagers, incest, bestiality, and body parts in school libraries. Taxpayer money should not be wasted on crude and disgusting smut with little literary or educational value.
The District seems to be very committed to school safety and Digital and Online safety - as evidenced by regular trainings. Is it not equally important for our children to be protected from sexually explicit garbage, that is not age-appropriate, sitting right at their fingertips on the shelves of our school libraries? We want to be clear that we are not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. Many of these books are likely being pushed into our schools from outside sources and we are giving the benefit of the doubt to librarians and others who likely do not have the time to read every book that is approved. Despite the media's rhetoric to the contrary, our school board, administration and librarians do have, and should exercise, the power to make decisions that protect children by limiting their access to inappropriate materials. Supreme Court decisions have made that clear.
We are requesting that: 1) you review the attachment and remove those books that are obviously not appropriate to be in the hands of minors, pursuant to Utah Code 76-10-1203; 2) this review takes place before we submit a separate challenge form with respect to each book; and 3) after you remove the obviously offensive books, we then submit challenge forms for any additional books we feel should be removed, but were not. Although many of these books would be offensive even to adults, we ask that you look at these books from the eyes of a child.
We want to work together, not to grandstand or to ban books, but to do a thoughtful, thorough review that puts children first and protects them from dangerous images, harmful content, and over-sexualized agendas. At some point, it would be nice to open a dialogue about the process/system for the selection of books, including additional, worthwhile books that could be in our libraries. But first, let's focus on removing the obviously pornographic and sexually explicit books.
Sincerely,
[30 parents]
7 Comments
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  • Home
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  • PARENT RESOURCES
    • PARENT CLASS RESOURCES
    • PARENTAL RIGHTS >
      • KNOW THE LAW
    • What is SEL?
    • CRT in Utah schools
    • RACIAL HEALING
    • SEX ED >
      • SEX ED
      • WHAT IS CSE
    • TRANSGENDER
    • ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION >
      • HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH
    • SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO >
      • FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
    • FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS >
      • PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES
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    • USBE Gender Guidance Policy
  • Districts
  • ABOUT US
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  • Products
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  • Legislative Session 2023