R277-491. School Community Councils

R277.  Education, Administration.

R277-491.  School Community Councils.

R277-491-1.  Authority and Purpose.

          (1)  This rule is authorized by:

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

          (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.

          (2)  The purpose of this rule is to:

          (a)  provide procedures and clarifying information to a school community council to assist the council in fulfilling school community council responsibilities consistent with Sections 53G-7-1202 through 53G-7-1203;

          (b)  provide direction to a local school board, school, and school district in establishing and maintaining a school community council;

          (c)  provide a framework and support for improved academic achievement of students that is locally driven from within an individual school;

          (d)  encourage increased participation of a parent, school employee, and others to support the mission of a school community council;

          (e)  increase public awareness of:

          (i)  school trust lands;

          (ii)  the permanent State School Fund; and

          (iii)  educational excellence; and

          (f)  enforce compliance with the laws governing a school community council.

          (3)  This rule does not apply to charter schools.

R277-491-2.  Definitions.

          (1)  "Local school board" means the locally elected school board designated in Section 53G-4-201.

          (2)  "Parent member" means the same as the term is defined in Section 53G-7-1202.

          (3)(a)  "Principal" means an administrator licensed as a principal in the state and employed in that capacity at a school.

          (b)  "Principal" includes a specific designee of the principal.

          (4)  "School community" means the geographic area a school district designates as the attendance area, with reasonable inclusion of a parent of a student who attends the school but lives outside the attendance area.

          (5)  "Student" means a child in a public school, grades kindergarten through 12, counted on the audited October 1 fall enrollment report.

R277-491-3.  School Community Council Member Election Provisions.

          (1)  In addition to the election notice requirements of Section 53G-7-1202, the principal shall provide notice of:

          (a)  the location where a ballot may be cast; and

          (b)  the means by which a ballot may be cast, whether in person, by mail, or by electronic transfer.

          (2)(a)  A school community council may establish a procedure that allows a parent to mail a ballot to the school in the event the distance between a parent and the voting location would otherwise discourage parental participation.

          (b)  A mailed or hand-delivered ballot shall meet the same timeline as a ballot voted in person.

          (3)(a)  A school, school district, or local school board may allow a parent to vote by electronic ballot through a district approved election process that is consistent with the election requirements in Subsection 53G-7-1202(5).

          (b)  If allowed, the school or school district shall clearly explain on its website the opportunity to vote by electronic means.

          (4)  In the event of a change in statute or rule affecting the composition of a school community council, a council member who is elected or appointed prior to the change may complete the term for which the member was elected.

          (5)(a)  A public school that is a secure facility, juvenile detention facility, hospital program school, or other small or special school may receive School LAND Trust Program funds without having a school community council if the school demonstrates and documents a good faith effort to:

          (i)  recruit members;

          (ii)  have meetings; and

          (iii)  publicize the opportunity to serve on the council.

          (b)  A local school board shall make the determination whether to grant the exemption for a school described in Subsection (5)(a).

R277-491-4.  School Community Council Principal Responsibilities.

          (1)  Following an election, the principal shall enter and electronically sign on the School LAND Trust Program website a principal's assurance affirming:

          (a)  the school community council's election;

          (b)  that unfilled positions were filled by appointment as necessary, consistent with Subsection 53G-7-1202(5); and

          (c)  that the school community council's bylaws or procedures comply with Sections 53G-7-1202, 53G-7-1203, and this rule.

          (2)  To encourage parental involvement in a school, the principal shall post the following information on the school's website on or before October 20 annually:

          (a)  an invitation to a parent to serve on the school community council;

          (b)  the dollar amount the school receives each year from the School LAND Trust Program;

          (c)  a copy of or link to the school's current Teacher and Student Success Plan;

          (d)  approved minutes of the school's council meetings for at least a year;

          (e)  a proposed council meeting schedule for the year;

          (f)  a means to contact the members of the school's community council directly;

          (g)  a copy of or link to the school's plan or final report for the most recent two prior years, consistent with Section 53G-7-1206; and

          (h)  a copy of or link to the school's current year plan.

R277-491-5.  School Community Council Chair Responsibilities.

          (1)  After the school community council election, the school community council shall annually elect at the council's first meeting a chair and vice chair in accordance with Subsection 53G-7-1202(5)(j).

          (2)  The school community council chair shall:

          (a)  set the agenda for every meeting;

          (b)  conduct every meeting;

          (c)  keep written minutes of every meeting, consistent with Section 53G-7-1203;

          (d)  inform council members about resources available on the School LAND Trust Program website; and

          (e)  welcome and encourage public participation in school community council meetings.

          (3)  The chair may delegate the responsibilities established in this section as appropriate at the chair's discretion.

R277-491-6.  School Community Council Business.

          (1)(a)  The school community council shall adopt rules of order and procedure to govern a council meeting in accordance with Subsection 53G-7-1203(10).

          (b)  The rules of order and procedure shall outline the process for:

          (i)  electing the school community council, including:

          (A)  the number of parent members and school employee members on the council; and

          (B)  member positions beginning in odd years or even years to ensure half of the council members positions are open for election each year;

          (ii)  selecting a chair and vice chair;

          (iii)  removing from office a member who moves away or fails to attend meetings regularly; and

          (iv)  a member to declare a conflict of interest if required by the local school board's policy.

          (2)  The school community council shall:

          (a)  report on a plan, including programs, practices, and expenditures at least annually to the local school board; and

          (b)  encourage participation on the school community council by members of the school community and recruit a potential candidate to run for an open position on the council.

          (3)(a)  The principal shall provide an annual report to the school community council that summarizes current safety principles and practices used by the school district and school to facilitate the school community council's responsibilities under Subsection 53G-7-1202(3).

          (b)  The report described in Subsection (3)(a) shall include:

          (i)  information concerning internet filtering protocols for school and district devices that access the internet;

          (ii)  local instructional practices, monitoring, and reporting procedures; and

          (iii)  internet safety training provided to a student and parent by the school or district.

          (4)  A school community council shall comply with the requirements of Subsection 53G-7-1202(3)(vi).

          (5)  A school community council may advise and inform the local school board and other members of the school community regarding the uses of School LAND Trust Program funds.

          (6)  A school community council may hold electronic meetings consistent with:

          (a)  the policies of the local school board; and

          (b)  the requirements of Section 53G-7-1203.

KEY:  school community councils

Date of Last Change:  July 22, 2022

Notice of Continuation:  November 5, 2021

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401(4); Title 53G, Chapter 7, Part 12

Status of Rule

Effective July 22, 2022

Five-year review November 5, 2026

---

Oversight Framework

Uncategorized

---

Related Utah Law

Public Education Statutes
53G-4-402

53G-7-216

Title 53G, Chapter 7, Part 12, School Community Councils and Charter Trust Land Councils

53G-10-407

Other Statutes
None

USBE Administrative Rules
R277-100, Definitions for USBE Rules

R277-477, Distributions of Funds from the Trust Distribution Account and
Administration of the School LAND Trust Program

R277-927, Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) Program

---

Related Federal Law

None

---

Resources

School LAND Trust

---

Contact Information

Primary Contact:
Paula Plant
paula.plant@schools.utah.gov
School LAND Trust

Secondary Contact:
Kira Bennett
kira.bennett@schools.utah.gov
School LAND Trust

---

This page was last updated on October 11, 2024.

---

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.

---