Councils

School Website Posting Requirements

Schools participating in the School LAND Trust program are required by Utah Code and Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Rule to have certain items on their individual school website, and to provide notice of meetings on the school website one week before the council meeting is held. The School Children’s Trust section of the USBE has been tasked with reviewing a portion of school websites annually to determine compliance.

School Community Councils (SCC)

Rules of Order and Procedure Template (Google Doc)

Rules of Order and Procedure Sections (Google Doc)

August & September

Conduct Fall Elections (if not held in the spring)
Hold First Meeting
- School Community Council Information (YouTube)
Assign review of required website information and Rules of Order & Procedure
Elect a Chair and Vice-Chair

Before October 20th

Review the current School LAND Trust Plan and Teacher and Student Success Act Plan (TSSA)

November & December

Discuss School Safety, Digital Citizenship Reports, and the Positive Behavior Plan (as needed).

January & February

Review the year-to-date budget and submit a Plan Amendment for approval (as needed)
- Plan Amendment Approval Process(YouTube)
Discuss academic data in relation to the current School LAND Trust Plan
Determine the academic needs to be addressed in the upcoming school year
- Academic Needs and Unallowable Expenses Resource (Google Doc)
Make recommendations to the principal about the Teacher and Student Success Act Plan (TSSA)

March & April

Prepare and approve the School LAND Trust Plan (by District due date)

Sign the Council Assurance (signature page) at the meeting where the plan is approved
- Information about Council Signature Rule
- Signature Page Template (Google Doc)

May

Report on the Current School Plan implementation and budget
Celebrate student and school year successes
Conduct Spring Elections (if not held in the fall)

Training Materials

24-25 Community Council Overview (YouTube)

Trust System Overview (YouTube)

School Community Council and Trust Land Council Stewardship (YouTube)

School Community Council and Trust Land Council Information, November 2023 Training

School Community Council and Trust Land Council Information(Canva), November 2023 Training

November 2023 SCC/TLC (YouTube), November 2023

Elected Charter Trust Land Councils

Rules of Order and Procedure Charter Trust Land Council (not governing board) Template (Google Doc)

Election Procedure Recommended Checklist (Google Doc)

Election Procedure Template (Google Doc)

Every Charter School is required to have a Charter Trust Land Council. A charter school may choose to use its governing board as the Charter Trust Land Council only if the governing board has a two-person majority of parents or grandparents with children currently enrolled at the school. If the governing board does not meet the requirements, or if the board chooses not to serve as the Charter Trust Land Council, the board should determine election procedures to elect council members who are parents or grandparents of students enrolled at the school.

Charter Schools that use their governing boards as Charter Trust Land Councils should include council business in regularly scheduled governing board meetings that are subject to the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. Charter schools with separately elected Charter Trust Land Councils follow the School Community Councils Open and Public Meeting Requirements found under Laws and Rules.

All schools should have the school’s Teacher and Student Success Plan posted on the school website. Charter Schools with a separately elected Charter Trust Land Council are required by Utah Code and Utah State Board of Education Rule to have certain items on their individual school website, and to provide notice of the meetings on the school website one week before the council meeting is held.

Before the School Year Begins

The Governing Board provides direction on the policy and procedure to elect a Charter Trust Land Council
- Charter Trust Land Council Information (YouTube)
What's New for Charter Schools 2024-2025 (YouTube)

October

Trust Land Council receives training on the School LAND Trust Program
Review the current School LAND Trust Plan and Teacher and Student Success Act Plan (TSSA)

November-February

Discuss (Governing Board provides reports to councils about Digital Citizenship and Safety Plans):
- School Safety
- Digital Citizenship Reports
- Positive Behavior Plan (as needed)
Review the year-to-date budget and submit a Plan Amendment for approval (as needed)
- Plan Amendment Approval Process(YouTube)
Discuss academic data in relation to the current School LAND Trust Plan
Determine the academic needs to be addressed in the upcoming school year
- Academic Needs and Unallowable Expenses (Google Doc)
Make recommendations to the principal about the Teacher and Student Success Act Plan (TSSA)

Before May1st

Prepare and approve the School LAND Trust Plan (by District due date)

Sign the Council Assurance (signature page) at the meeting where the plan is approved
- Information about Updated Council Signature Rule
- Signature Page Template (Google Doc)
- Updated Council Signature Form Requirements (YouTube)
- Updated Council Signature Form Requirements- Spanish (YouTube)