R277-120. Licensing of Material Developed with Public Education Funds

R277.  Education, Administration.

R277-120.  Licensing of Material Developed with Public Education Funds.

R277-120-1.  Authority and Purpose.

          (1)  This rule is authorized by:

          (a)  Article X, Section 3 of the Utah Constitution, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board;

          (b)  Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; and

          (c)  Subsection 53E-3-501(1)(e)(i), which directs the Board to encourage school productivity and cost effectiveness measures.

          (2)  The purpose of this rule is to:

          (a)  establish requirements for licensing of courseware and materials produced with public education funds; and

          (b)  promote a policy that education materials produced with public funds be openly, publicly, and freely accessible for use by others.

R277-120-2.  Definitions.

          (1)(a)  "CC-BY license" means a copyright license developed by Creative Commons, which allows other users to:

          (i)  copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format; and

          (ii)  remix, transform, and build upon the material.

          (b)  Under a CC-BY license, a licensee may share the materials in any manner, including commercially.

          (c)  Under a CC-BY license, a licensee shall:

          (i)  give appropriate credit to the licensor;

          (ii)  provide a link to the license; and

          (iii)  indicate if the licensee made changes to the licensor's work.

          (2)  "Public education materials" means courseware and materials developed with public education funds and includes:

          (a)  syllabi;

          (b)  instructional materials;

          (c)  modules;

          (d)  textbooks, including teacher's editions;

          (e)  student guides;

          (f)  supplemental materials;

          (g)  formative and summative assessment supports;

          (h)  laboratory activities;

          (i)  simulations;

          (j)  musical or dramatic compositions;

          (k)  audio, video or photographic material;

          (l)  manuals;

          (m)  codes; and

          (n)  software.

          (3)  "Sensitive materials" means the same as the term is defined in Subsection 53G-10-103(1)(g).

          (4)  "Utah Education Network" or "UEN" means an online education materials resource maintained by the Utah Education and Telehealth Network offering services to educators and students throughout the state of Utah.

R277-120-3.  Public Education Materials Funded by the Board.

          (1)  The Superintendent shall share public education materials developed with funds controlled by the Board under a CC-BY license.

          (2)  The Superintendent shall share materials developed in accordance with Subsection (1) through UEN, where appropriate, or through other appropriate means of making public education materials available to educators and the public.

          (3)(a)  An individual or entity that shares or adapts public education materials identified in Subsection (1) shall:

          (i)  provide attribution to the Board;

          (ii)  provide a link to the license; and

          (ii)  indicate if any changes were made to the original materials.

          (b)  An individual or entity may make attribution in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that implies the Board endorses any adaptation of the materials without express authorization of the Board.

          (4)  The Superintendent may request a copy of shared or adapted public education materials be provided to the Board.

          (5)  If an employee of the Board develops public education materials as part of the employee's employment, the public education materials shall be the property of the Board, subject to licensing in accordance with Section R277-120-3.

          (6)  An individual or entity may not develop sensitive materials using public funds.

R277-120-4.  Public Education Materials Funded by an LEA.

          (1)  An LEA shall develop and maintain a policy regarding public education materials developed with the LEA's funds.

          (2)  A policy developed in accordance with Subsection (1) shall identify:

          (a)  whether the LEA will share public education materials with a CC-BY license or another license approved by the LEA's governing board;

          (b)  whether use of LEA developed public education materials will require attribution to the LEA;

          (c)  whether the LEA will charge third parties for use of the materials;

          (d)  whether the LEA reserves the right to review and approve materials developed by employees on contract time; and

          (e)  whether the LEA restricts employees from sharing materials purchased with LEA funds or specifically licensed for LEA use.

          (3)  A policy developed under Subsection (1)  shall prohibit the development of sensitive materials with public funds.

          (4)  An LEA may not charge an educator in a Utah public school for use of materials developed with LEA funds.

R277-120-5.  Classroom Materials Developed by Utah Educators.

          (1)(a)  A public education employee may not sell public education materials developed in whole or in part with funds from the Board or an LEA.

          (b)  If a public education employee sells public education materials subject to Subsection (1)(a) for personal gain, the employee may be subject to Section 67-16-4.

          (2)  An LEA may review and approve materials developed by educators on contract time consistent with a policy adopted in accordance with Subsection R277-120-4(1).

          (3)(a)  A Utah licensed educator need not seek permission from the educator's LEA to share classroom materials developed using the educator's personal time and resources.

          (b)  An educator may share materials developed in accordance with Subsection (3)(a) through a CC-BY license.

          (4)(a)  A Utah licensed educator may only share materials that are consistent with the Utah Professional Educator Standards contained in Rule R277-217.

          (b)  An educator may not share materials that advocate illegal activities or materials that are inconsistent with the educator's legal and role model responsibilities.

          (5)  The Superintendent may offer professional development programs that offer support, guidance, and instruction to educators who wish to create, use, or continuously improve public education materials shared in accordance with this Rule R277-120.

KEY:  licensing, materials

Date of Last Change:  October 11, 2022

Notice of Continuation:  August 14, 2022

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401(4); 53E-3-501(1)(e)(i)

Status of Rule

Effective October 11, 2022

Five-year review August 14, 2027

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Oversight Framework

Uncategorized

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Related Utah Law

Public Education Statutes
53E-3-501

Other Statutes
67-16-4

USBE Administrative Rules
R277-100, Definitions for USBE Rules

R277-217, Educator Standards and Local Education Agency (LEA) Reporting

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Related Federal Law

None

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Resources

None

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Contact Information

Primary Contact:
Teri Davis
teri.davis@schools.utah.gov
Instructional Materials

Secondary Contact:
Todd Call
todd.call@schools.utah.gov
Teaching and Learning

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This page was last updated on November 23, 2024.

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NOTE: The information on this webpage is provided as a service to users and the Utah State Board of Education is not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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