Parent Rights
Utah’s Constitution and laws respect parents’ primary role in the education of their children. The Utah State Board of Education (“USBE”) deeply appreciates the trust that parents have placed in Utah’s public education system, and is committed to supporting them in this critical mission.
Recent research has emphasized effective family engagement as a key component of school transformation and improvement efforts. Students with highly engaged families:
- Attend school regularly
- Have stronger social skills
- Earn higher grades
- Graduate from high school
- Go on to college or other postsecondary program
"Research shows that children spend only 20% of their waking time annually in formal classroom education, leaving 80% of their time to explore and enhance their learning interests in non-school settings." Harvard Research Project (2014)
This parent portal outlines the basic structure of Utah’s public education system, some of the rights of parents in the direction of their children’s education, and opportunities to engage with and support your schools at the state and local level.
USBE welcomes and encourages participation of parents and community members from all backgrounds. The portal is available in multiple languages, and USBE offers verbal translation services for further discussions with our staff.
As a parent in Utah, you have specific data privacy rights related to your child's educational records and information. These rights are protected by federal and state laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Utah state regulations. Utah code acknowledges a parent’s primary role in the education of their children, and the vital supporting role of the public education system.
Utah Code Policy for Utah's Public Education System 53E-2-201 "Parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children..."
Parents have opportunities to provide input to USBE by serving on various advisory committees; for more information is available and to participate, contact Kelsey James via e-mail at kelsey.james@schools.utah.gov.
The Utah Constitution provides that the “general control and supervision of the public education system shall be vested in a State Board of Education.”
Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3
Utah’s “Local Education Agencies” – districts and charter schools – are governed by elected boards, and are primarily responsible for curriculum, hiring and payment of teachers, and most other local issues. USBE encourages parents to reach out to your LEA with any concerns, but we are happy to answer questions about the role of USBE in supporting and guiding LEAs.
Utah Senate Bill 114 Public School Curriculum Requirements (parents right to approve curriculum)
Did you know?
-Local Education Agency (LEA)/Districts/Charter Discretion: While state rules and legislation provide a framework, much of the flexibility in K-12 education is implemented at the LEA (school district or charter school) level.
-Funding: The availability and scope of certain flexible programs may be subject to legislative appropriations.
-Federal Law: Flexibility at the state and local level must always comply with federal laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for special education.
-Policies and Procedures: Charters and Districts also have their own policies and procedures that they follow created within rule and law.
-There are "Best Practices" that are generally agreed upon but it is up to the charter, district or school on how they approach various issues unless specifically stipulated in state policy/rule or their own policies.
Accommodations and Special Education Rights
see more information on the "Accommodations and Special Education for Parents" page.
Special Education, Title I, III, IX, VI, and 504.
Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)Utah Home Education Association (UHEA)
Constitutional Rights
Article I Declaration of Rights
Article X Constitutional Rights in Education
HB 247 Individual Freedom In Public Education
Utah Code Maintaining constitutional freedom in the public schools (53G-10-202)
Equal Opportunities in Education
Board Rule R277-328 Equal Opportunity in Education Acknowledges and describes that all students are capable of learning and may need additional guidance, resources, and support based on their academic needs.
Basic process for filing a complaint with the office of civil rights:
- Be filed in writing by mail, fax, e-mail, or via the OCR Complaint Portal
- Name the health care or social service provider involved, and describe the acts or omissions, you believe violated civil rights laws or regulations
- Be filed within 180 days of when you knew that the act or omission complained of occurred. OCR may extend the 180-day period if you can show "good cause"
Religious Accommodations
Utah Code Individual Freedom In Public Education (HB 427) This bill describes maintaining constitutional freedom in public schools.
Utah Code Waivers of participation based on religious belief (53G-10-205) Describes the process and rights to waive the student's participation in any aspect of school that violates the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience.
Constitutional Law-Religious Liberty (Article I, Section 4) Describes the constitutional right for a parent in regard to the rights of conscience which shall never be infringed upon.
Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) Supreme court decision establishing that the state cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if it is not required and not tied to a particular religion.
Constitutional Law-Religious Liberty (Article I, Section 4) Establishes the rights of religious beliefs.
Responsibility to Educate your Child
Utah Code Policy for Utah's Public Education System 53E-2-20 Describes a general policy for public education.
Compulsory Education 53G-6-202 This code identifies what compulsory education is in the state of Utah.
Utah Code Truancy -- Notice of truancy -- Failure to cooperate with school authorities (53G-6-203) Defines truancy and actions that can be taken if a student is truant.
Utah Code Individual Freedom In Public Education (HB 427) This bill describes maintaining constitutional freedom in public schools.
Student Data Privacy
updated 5/19/25
Student Data Privacy USBE Student Data Privacy Department page.
Parent Data Privacy Rights Parent rights regarding Data Privacy and FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) United States Department of Education on Protecting Student Data Privacy and FERPA
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) General Guidance Downloadable document for the protection of pupil rights amendment and general guidance.
Utah Code Student Privacy and Data Protection (53E-9) Utah Code section going over General Provisions, Student Privacy and Student Data Protection.
R277-615 Board Rule Procedures for Searching Student Standards for searching students and responsibilities.
R277-487 Board Rule School Data Confidentiality and Disclosure Goes over retention of student data, privacy, security, evaluation data, third party application, sharing of data with Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities and training educators.