Welcome to Utah Core Standards

Overview

As described in the Utah State Legislatures Title 53E-4-202: Core Standards for Utah Public Schools, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) shall establish the core standards for Utah public schools that:

  • Identify the basic knowledge, skills, and competencies­ each student is expected to acquire or master as the student advances through the public education system; and
  • increase in depth and complexity from year to year and focus on consistent and continual progress within and between grade levels and courses.

In an effort for Utah to ensure high quality core content standards, the USBE has approved an internal process for review and revision. First and foremost, the USBE established a timeline for revision of core content standards for Social Studies, English Language Arts, World Languages, Library Media, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education, Driver Education, Health, Science, and Preschool. The revision timeline provides local education agencies with an expected timeline for when each of the core content standards will be up for review and potentially revision.

Standards Development Process

Core Standards Revision Process and Related Resources

Core Guide Development Process

Utah Core Standards Revision Timeline

Table 1: Utah Core Standards Revision Timeline

2019-2020

Social Studies

Social Studies
Kindergarten - Grade 6 (2010)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

2020-2021

English Language Arts

Elementary Language Arts
Secondary Language Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2013)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Social Studies

Social Studies
Kindergarten - Grade 6 (2010)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

2021-2022

English Language Arts

Elementary Language Arts
Secondary Language Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2013)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Library Media

Library Media
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2015)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Social Studies

Social Studies
Kindergarten - Grade 6 (2010)
Status: Implement

World Languages

World Languages
(2015)
Status: Review and Revise Standards 

2022-2023

English Language Arts

Elementary Language Arts
Secondary Language Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2013)
Status: Implement

Fine Arts

Fine Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Library Media

Library Media
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2015)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

World Languages

World Languages
(2015) 
Status: Adopt and Introduce

2023-2024

English Language Arts

Elementary Language Arts
Secondary Language Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2013)
Status: Assess

Fine Art

Fine Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Library Media

Library Media
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2015)
Status: Implement

Mathematics

Mathematics
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

World Languages

World Languages
(2015)
Status: Implement

 

 

 

2024-2025

Fine Arts

Fine Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Implement

Mathematics

Mathematics
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Physical Education

Physical Education
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Science

Science
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2019)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

2025-2026

Driver Education

Driver Education
(2018)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Health

Health Education
(2019)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Mathematics

Mathematics
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Implement

Physical Education

Physical Education
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Science

Science
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2019)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

2026-2017

Driver Education

Driver Education
(2018)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Health Education

Health Education
(2019)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Mathematics

Mathematics
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Assess 

Physical Education

Physical Education
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Implement

Preschool

Preschool
(2019)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Science

Science
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2019)
Status: Implement

Social Studies

Social Studies
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

2027-2028

Driver Education

Driver Education
(2018)
Status: Implement

Health Education

Health Education
(2019)
Status: Implement

Preschool

Preschool
(2019)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

Science

Science
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2019)
Status: Assess

Social Studies

Social Studies
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Adopt and Introduce

2028-2029

English Language Arts

Elementary Language Arts
Secondary Language Arts
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2013)
Status: Review and Revise Standards

Health Education

Health Education
(2019)
Status: Access

Preschool

Preschool
(2019)
Status: Implement

Social Studies

Social Studies
Kindergarten - Grade 12 (2016)
Status: Implement

Review/Revision Checklist Process

At times, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) may need to consider reviewing/revising standards outside of the predetermined timeline. In order for that to occur, agency staff and the Board will consider specific cueing components to determine if a review/revision may be necessary earlier than anticipated. As part of determining whether to 1. maintain the current Utah Core standards or 2. engage in a review/revision and modify the Utah standards outside of the timeline, a cueing checklist will be utilized that includes consideration of the following components:

  • Standards revision rubric threshold has been reached and recommends a revision is necessary
  • New peer-reviewed or evidence-based research indicates a need for substantial revision of standards
  • Changes in the labor market indicate a need for substantial revision to the standards
  • Legislative statute requires a substantial revision
  • Public feedback received demonstrates a need to change standards

In order for a review/revision to be cued, at least two of the components (above) must be present to proceed to the standards review process. One exception to this practice may occur if the legislative statute requires a substantial revision. In that case, then the statute would supersede the Utah State Board of Education's process.

Additionally, as part of this process, annual public feedback shall be sought for the core content standards. In order to be considered, any public feedback must be relevant and substantive in nature. While informative, impressions or general likes or dislikes concerning the standards or policies will not be assessed in the checklist comparison. If the received public input is assessed against the policy/content checklist and the current standards are found adequate, no revision shall be necessary.

Standards Revision Process

When core standards are up for review/revision, the Board has designated a standards revision eight step process. The process is informed by both Utah Administrative Code and the Utah State Board of Education Board Policy.

Utah State Board of Education Standards Revision Process

Governing Documents

Board Policy

Policy 3002: Core Standards Revision Process
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices (PLPP)