01-10 16:11 H.B. 181
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School Week Schedule Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill amends provisions relating to requesting a waiver to implement a four-day school
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week.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ amends the process for a local education agency or individual public school to obtain a
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waiver from the State Board of Education to implement a four-day school week; and
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▸ makes technical changes.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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53F-2-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 17
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53G-7-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 293
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ENACTS:
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53G-7-202.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 53F-2-102 is amended to read:
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53F-2-102 . Definitions.
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As used in this chapter:
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(1) "Basic state-supported school program," "basic program," or "basic school program"
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means public education programs for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school
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students that are operated and maintained for the amount derived by multiplying the
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number of weighted pupil units for each school district or charter school by the value
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established each year in the enacted public education budget, except as otherwise H.B. 181 01-10 16:11
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provided in this chapter.
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(2) "LEA governing board" means a local school board or charter school governing board.
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(3) "Pupil in average daily membership" or "ADM" means a full-day equivalent pupil.
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(4)(a) "Minimum School Program" means the state-supported public school programs
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for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools as described in this Subsection
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(4).
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(b) The Minimum School Program established in school districts and charter schools
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shall include the equivalent of a school term of nine months as determined by the
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state board.
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(c)(i) The state board shall establish the number of days or equivalent instructional
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hours that school is held for an academic school year.
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(ii) Education, enhanced by utilization of technologically enriched delivery systems,
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when approved by an LEA governing board, shall receive full support by the state
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board as it pertains to fulfilling the attendance requirements, excluding time spent
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viewing commercial advertising.
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(d)(i) An LEA governing board may reallocate up to 32 instructional hours or four
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school days established under Subsection (4)(c) for teacher preparation time or
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teacher professional development.
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(ii) A reallocation of instructional hours or school days under Subsection (4)(d)(i) is
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subject to the approval of two-thirds of the members of an LEA governing board
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voting in a regularly scheduled meeting:
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(A) at which a quorum of the LEA governing board is present; and
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(B) held in compliance with Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.
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(iii) If an LEA governing board reallocates instructional hours or school days as
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provided by this Subsection (4)(d), the school district or charter school shall notify
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students' parents of the school calendar at least[:]
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[(A)] 90 days before the beginning of the school year[; or] .
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[(B) for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, due to circumstances within
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the LEA or a given school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 14 calendar
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days before the reallocated instructional hours or school days.]
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(iv) Instructional hours or school days reallocated for teacher preparation time or
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teacher professional development pursuant to this Subsection (4)(d) is considered
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part of a school term referred to in Subsection (4)(b).
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(e) The Minimum School Program includes a program or allocation funded by a line
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item appropriation or other appropriation designated as follows:
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(i) Basic School Program;
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(ii) Related to Basic Programs;
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(iii) Voted and Board Levy Programs; or
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(iv) Minimum School Program.
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(5) "Weighted pupil unit or units or WPU or WPUs" means the unit of measure of factors
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that is computed in accordance with this chapter for the purpose of determining the costs
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of a program on a uniform basis for each school district or charter school.
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Section 2. Section 53G-7-202 is amended to read:
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53G-7-202 . Waivers from state board rules.
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(1) A charter school or any other public school or school district may apply to the state
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board for a waiver of any state board rule that inhibits or hinders the school or the school
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district from accomplishing [its] the mission of the school or school district or the
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educational goals set out in [its] the relevant strategic plan or charter agreement.
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(2) The state board may grant the waiver if the school or school district states a clear reason
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for the waiver and includes supporting data, unless:
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(a) the waiver would cause the school district or the school to be in violation of state or
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federal law; or
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(b) the waiver would threaten the health, safety, or welfare of students in the district or
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at the school.
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(3) If the state board denies the waiver, the state board shall provide the reason for the
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denial [shall be provided ]in writing to the waiver applicant.
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Section 3. Section 53G-7-202.5 is enacted to read:
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53G-7-202.5 . Four-day school week -- Waiver process.
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(1) In accordance with Section 53G-7-202, an LEA or individual public school may apply
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to the state board for a waiver of the state board's rule on minimum school days to
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implement a four-day school week.
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(2) The state board shall:
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(a) establish an application process for a waiver described in Subsection (1) that requires
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an LEA or public school to provide the state board with:
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(i) a clear rationale that explains how the waiver will address specific issues faced by
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the LEA or public school;
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(ii) data that supports the requested waiver, including:
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(A) student achievement data, with an analysis of how the waiver is expected to
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affect student achievement; and
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(B) survey data assessing the community's support for the waiver;
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(iii) plans to maximize instructional time and address other concerns associated with
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a four-day school week;
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(iv) documentation of at least two open meetings, held separately from regular board
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meetings, to engage with stakeholders regarding the waiver request; and
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(v) certification that the LEA or public school notified affected school community
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councils and principals about the potential waiver before holding a vote to apply
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for the waiver;
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(b) set a deadline by which an LEA or public school that receives a waiver under this
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section shall apply for a waiver renewal; and
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(c) establish a process to renew a waiver under this section that requires an LEA or
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public school to provide the state board with:
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(i) a clear rationale for the renewal request;
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(ii) data that supports the rationale for the renewal request, including student
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achievement data;
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(iii) a summary of how the existing waiver has affected the issues that prompted the
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waiver; and
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(iv) certification that the LEA or school shared student achievement data and other
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data related to the waiver with stakeholders.
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(3) A waiver application for a school that shares a bus schedule with another school or
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schools shall explain how the waiver will affect all schools on the shared bus schedule.
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(4) The state board shall establish standards for the survey described in Subsection
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(2)(a)(ii)(B) to ensure that survey data adequately assesses community support.
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(5) The open meetings described in Subsection (2)(a)(iv) shall include:
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(a) a meeting held before a vote is taken to apply for the waiver, during which the LEA
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or public school shall:
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(i) explain the rationale for seeking the waiver; and
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(ii) listen to stakeholder concerns; and
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(b) a meeting held after the decision to apply for the waiver but before the submission of
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the application, during which the LEA or public school shall:
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(i) explain the waiver process; and
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(ii) describe plans to address stakeholder concerns.
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(6) An LEA or public school that receives a waiver under this section shall track data
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related to the rationale presented in the waiver application.
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Section 4. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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