No. 26902 (Amendment): R277-700. The Elementary and Secondary School Core Curriculum

DAR File No.: 26902
Filed: 01/15/2004, 05:30
Received by: NL

 

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to revise several middle and high school Core Curriculum requirements.

 

Summary of the rule or change:

Amendments to the rule include changes in middle and high school Core Curriculum requirements, a provision that credit for courses or course mastery may be awarded at the discretion of the school district, and the addition of financial literacy as a required course.

 

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsections 53A-1-402(1)(b) and (c)

 

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no known cost or savings to state budget. There may be costs to add the financial literacy requirement to the Core Curriculum but the requirement was part of S.B. 154, 2003 General Session, and the specific cost of the program is included within the significant cost of the implementation of S.B. 154. (DAR NOTE: S.B. 154 is found at UT L 2003 Ch 315, and was effective May 5, 2003.)

 

local governments:

There are no known cost or savings to school districts. There may be costs to add the financial literacy requirement to the Core Curriculum but the requirement was part of S.B. 154, 2003 General Session, and the specific cost of the program is included within the significant cost of the implementation of S.B. 154.

 

other persons:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to other persons. The implementation of any changes in the Core Curriculum will be borne by the state or school districts with appropriated funds.

 

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. The implementation of any changes in the Core Curriculum will be borne by the state or school districts with appropriated funds.

 

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule, and I see no fiscal impact on businesses. Steven O. Laing

 

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-3272

 

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

 

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

03/02/2004

 

This rule may become effective on:

03/03/2004

 

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Coordinator School Law and Legislation

 

 

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-700. The Elementary and Secondary School Core Curriculum.

R277-700-3. Core Curriculum Standards and Objectives.

A. The Board establishes minimum course description standards and objectives for each course in the required general core, which is commonly referred to as the Core Curriculum.

B. Course descriptions for required and elective courses shall be developed cooperatively by school districts and the USOE with opportunity for public and parental participation in the development process.

C. The descriptions shall contain mastery criteria for the courses, and shall stress mastery of the course material and Core objectives and standards rather than completion of predetermined time allotments for courses.

D. Implementation of the Core Curriculum and student assessment procedures are the responsibility of local boards of education consistent with state law.

E. This rule shall apply to students in the 200[5]7-200[6]8 graduating class.

 

R277-700-4. Elementary Education Requirements.

A. The Board shall establish a Core Curriculum for elementary schools, grades K-6.

B. Elementary School Education Core Curriculum Content Area Requirements:

(1) Grades K-2:

(a) Reading/Language Arts;

(b) Mathematics;

(c) Integrated Curriculum.

(2) Grades 3-6:

(a) Reading/Language Arts;

(b) Mathematics;

(c) Science;

(d) Social Studies;

(e) Arts:

(i) Visual Arts;

(ii) Music;

(iii) Dance;

(iv) Theatre.

(f) Health Education;

(g) Physical Education;

(h) Educational Technology;

(i) Library Media.

C. It is the responsibility of the local boards of education to provide access to the Core Curriculum to all students.

D. Student mastery of the general Core Curriculum is the responsibility of local boards of education.

E. Informal assessment should occur on a regular basis to ensure continual student progress.

F. Board-approved CRT's shall be used to assess student mastery of the following:

(1) reading;

(2) language arts;

(3) mathematics;

(4) science in elementary grades 4-6; and

(5) effectiveness of written expression in grade 6.

G. Norm-referenced tests shall be given to all elementary students in grades 3 and 5.

H. Provision for remediation for all elementary students who do not achieve mastery is the responsibility of local boards of education.

 

R277-700-5. Middle School Education Requirements.

A. The Board shall establish a Core Curriculum for middle school education.

B. Students in grades 7-8 shall earn a minimum of 12 units of credit to be properly prepared for instruction in grades 9-12.

C. Local boards may require additional units of credit.

D. Grades 7-8 Core Curriculum Requirements and units of credit:

(1) General Core (10.5 units of credit):

(a) Language Arts (2.0 units of credit);

(b) Mathematics (2.0 units of credit);

(c) Science (1.5 units of credit);

(d) Social Studies (1.5 units of credit);

(e) The Arts (1.0 units of credit):

(i) Visual Arts;

(ii) Music;

(iii) Dance;

(iv) Theatre.

(f) Physical Education (1.0 units of credit);

(g) Health Education (0.5 units of credit);

(h) Applied Technology Education Technology, Life, and Careers (1.0 units of credit);

(i) Educational Technology (credit optional);

(j) Library Media (integrated into subject areas).

E. Board-approved CRT's shall be used to assess student mastery of the following:

(1) reading;

(2) language arts;

(3) mathematics; and

(4) science in grades 7 and 8[; and

(5) effectiveness of written expression].

F. Norm-referenced tests shall be given to all middle school students in grade 8.

 

R277-700-6. High School Requirements.

A. The Board shall establish a Core Curriculum for students in grades 9-12.

B. Students in grades 9-12 shall earn a minimum of [24]15 units of credit.

C. [Local boards may require additional units of credit.

D. ]Grades 9-12 Core Curriculum [requirements and required units of credit]as specified:

(1) Language Arts (3.0 units of credit);

(2) Mathematics (2.0 units of credit):

(a) minimally, Elementary Algebra or Applied Mathematics I; and

(b) [g]Geometry or Applied Mathematics II; or

(c) any Advanced Mathematics courses in sequence beyond (a) and (b);

(d) high school mathematics credit may not be earned for courses in sequence below (a).

(3) Science (2.0 units of credit from two of the four science areas):

(a) [e]Earth Systems [s]Science (1.0 units of credit);

(b) [b]Biological [s]Science (1.0 units of credit);

(c) [c]Chemistry (1.0 units of credit);

(d) [p]Physics (1.0 units of credit).

(4) Social Studies ([3.0]2.5 units of credit):

(a) Geography for Life (0.5 units of credit);

(b) World Civilizations (0.5 units of credit);

(c) U.S. [h]History (1.0 units of credit);

(d) U.S. Government and Citizenship (0.5 units of credit)[;

(e) elective social studies class (0.5 units of credit)].

(5) The Arts (1.5 units of credit from any of the following performance areas):

(a) [v]Visual [a]Arts;

(b) [m]Music;

(c) [d]Dance;

(d) [t]Theatre;

(6) [Health education (0.5 units of credit);

(7) ]Physical and Health [e]Education ([1.5]2.0 units of credit):

(a) Health (0.5 units of credit);

([a]b) [p]Participation [s]Skills (0.5 units of credit);

([b]c) Fitness for Life (0.5 units of credit);

([c]d) [i]Individualized [l]Lifetime [a]Activities (0.5 units of credit) or team sport/athletic participation (maximum of 0.5 units of credit with school approval).

(8) Applied [t]Technology [e]Education (1.0 units of credit);

(a) [a]Agriculture;

(b) [b]Business;

(c) [f]Family and [c]Consumer [s]Sciences;

(d) [h]Health [s]Science and [t]Technology;

(e) [i]Information [t]Technology;

(f) [m]Marketing;

(g) [t]Technology [e]Education;

(h) [t]Trade and [t]Technical [e]Education.

(9) Educational [t]Technology:

(a) [c]Computer Technology (0.5 units of credit for the class by this specific name only); or

(b) successful completion of state-approved competency examination[ (no credit, but satisfies the Core requirement)] (credit may be awarded at the discretion of the school or school district).

(10) General Financial Literacy (0.5 units of credit).

(1[0]1) Library [m]Media [s]Skills (integrated into the [curriculum;]subject areas).

(1[1]2) Board-approved CRT's shall be used to assess student mastery of the following subjects:

(a) reading;

(b) language arts through grade 11;

(c) mathematics as defined under R277-700-6D(2);

(d) science as defined under R277-700-6D(3); and

(e) effectiveness of written expression in grade 9.

D. Local boards shall offer students at least 24 units of credit in grades 9-12.

(1) If a local board requires students to register for more than 24 units in grades 9-12, one-third of those credits above 24 shall be in one or more of the academic areas of math, language arts, world languages, science, or social studies, as determined by the local board.

(2) Local boards may exceed state requirements.

E. Students shall participate in the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test, as defined under R277-700-1O.

F. Students with disabilities served by special education programs may have changes made to graduation requirements through individual IEPs to meet unique educational needs. A student's IEP shall document the nature and extent of modifications, substitutions or exemptions made to accommodate a student with disabilities.

 

R277-700-7. Student Mastery and Assessment of Core Curriculum Standards and Objectives.

A. Student mastery of the Core Curriculum at all levels is the responsibility of local boards of education.

B. Provisions for remediation of secondary students who do not achieve mastery is the responsibility of local boards of education under Section 53A-13-104.

C. Students who are found to be deficient in basic skills through U-PASS shall receive remedial assistance according to provisions of Section 53A-1-606(1).

D. If parents object to portions of courses or courses in their entirety under provisions of law (Section 53A-13-101.2) and rule (R277-105), students and parents shall be responsible for the mastery of Core objectives to the satisfaction of the school prior to promotion to the next course or grade level.

E. Students with Disabilities:

(1) All students with disabilities served by special education programs shall demonstrate mastery of the Core Curriculum.

(2) If a student's disabling condition precludes the successful demonstration of mastery, the student's IEP team, on a case-by-case basis, may provide accommodations for or modify the mastery demonstration to accommodate the student's disability.

F. Students may demonstrate competency to satisfy course requirements consistent with R277-705-3.

G. All Utah public school students shall participate in state-mandated assessments, as required by law.

 

KEY: curricula

[March 5, 2002]2004

Notice of Continuation January 14, 2003

Art X Sec 3

53A-1-402(1)(b)

53A-1-402.6

53A-1-401(3)