R277-623. School Climate Survey

R277.  Education, Administration.

R277-623.  School Climate Survey.

R277-623-1.  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;

          (b)  Section 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)  Section 53G-8-802(2)(i), which requires the Board to make rules requiring an LEA to:

          (i)  create or adopt and disseminate a school climate survey; and

          (ii)  disseminate the school climate survey.

          (2)  The purpose of this rule is to provide an LEA with:

          (a)  the recommended distribution method;

          (b)  climate survey frequency; and

          (c)  minimum sample size required to conduct a climate survey.

R277-623-2.  Definitions.

          (1)  "School Climate Survey" or "climate survey" means a survey that evaluates a range of aspects of the educational environment to assess perceptions and identify specific strengths and weaknesses within a school.

          (2)  "School Community" means relevant stakeholders including:

          (a)  parents;

          (b)  students;

          (c)  administration;

          (d)  school building staff including teachers; and

          (e)  school resource officers as defined in Subsection 53G-8-701(2).

R277-623-3.  Incorporation of Required School Climate Survey Questions by Reference.

          (1)  This rule incorporates by reference the Model School Climate Survey.

          (2)  A copy of the model survey is located at:

          (a)  https://schools.utah.gov/administrativerules/documentsincorporated; and

          (b)  the Utah State Board of Education.

R277-623-4.  Climate Survey Administration.

          (1)  An LEA shall administer a school climate survey containing the questions identified in the Model School Climate Survey described in Section R277-623-3.

          (2)  An LEA may include additional questions in the LEA's climate survey consistent with student data privacy requirements as described in Section 53E-9-203.

          (3)  An LEA shall administer the climate survey:

          (a)  at least once every other year and in the opposite year from administration of the public education exit and engagement survey described in R277-325;

          (b)  in an anonymous and randomized way;

          (c)  to the LEA's school community;

          (d)  in other languages relevant to the school community where possible;

          (e)  to students across all academic achievement levels; and

          (f)  in a form compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

          (4)  An LEA may administer the survey orally to a student if:

          (a)  the LEA provides methods to protect the confidentiality of the student's responses;

          (b)  the student can request for a different survey administrator; and

          (c)  the LEA provides methods to protect the confidentiality and identity of the survey administrator from the general public.

          (5)  An LEA shall administer the climate survey through a Board approved online provider.

          (6)  An LEA shall provide the survey to:

          (a)  the lesser of 35% of the student population or 400 students;

          (b)  each school in the LEA; and

          (c)   staff at a school level.

          (7)  An LEA shall restrict access to survey responses in accordance with the LEA's written policies, Board rule, or state and federal laws.

KEY:  school climate survey, school safety

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment:  February 7, 2020

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401(4); 53G-8-802(2)(i)

Status of Rule

Effective February 7, 2020

Five-year review February 7, 2025

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Oversight Framework

Uncategorized

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Related Utah Law

Public Education Statutes
53E-9-203

53G-8-802

Other Statutes
None

USBE Administrative Rules
R277-100, Definitions for USBE Rules

R277-325, Public Education Exit and Engagement Surveys

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Related Federal Law

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

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Resources

None

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Contact Information

Primary Contact:
Willie Chen
willie.chen@schools.utah.gov
School Safety Center

Secondary Contact:
Melissa Muhlestein
melissa.muhlestein@schools.utah.gov
School Safety Center

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This page was last updated on December 2, 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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