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Approval Date: November 10, 2020

GCE- Parent Rights to Academic Accommodations

Meaning of “reasonably accommodate”

As used in this policy, “reasonably accommodate” means that a school shall make its best effort to enable a parent to exercise a right identified in this policy

• Without substantial impact to staff and resources, including employee working conditions, safety and supervision on school premises and for school activities, and the efficient allocation of expenditures
• While balancing:
  • Parental rights
  • Educational needs of other students
  • Academic and behavioral impacts to a classroom
  • Teacher workload
  • Safe and efficient school operation

In determining whether a parental request will be accommodated in a particular instance, each of the above-listed factors should be considered.

Utah Code § 53G-6-801(2) (2019)

Parent rights to academic accommodations

The District recognizes that a student’s parent is the primary person responsible for the education of the student and the state is in a secondary and supportive role to the parent. As such, a student's parent has the right to reasonable academic accommodations from the student's school as specified in this policy. The listing of rights in this policy is not meant to be exhaustive and a student’s parent, as a user of the public education system, may have other rights or be entitled to other accommodations. Whether under this policy or otherwise, each requested accommodation shall be considered on an individual basis and no student shall be considered to a greater or lesser degree than any other student. An accommodation may only be provided if the accommodation is consistent with federal law and, if the student has an Individualized Education Program (“IEP”), is consistent with the IEP.

Utah Code § 53G-6-803(1) (2019)

Academic accommodations

Each school in the District shall reasonably accommodate the written request of a student’s parent:

1. To retain a student in kindergarten through grade 8 on his/her current grade level based on the student’s academic ability or social, emotional, or physical maturity.
2. To request a specific teacher or a change of teacher.
3. To visit and observe any class the student attends.
4. To place a student in a specialized class, a specialized program, or an advanced course -- the school shall consider multiple academic data points when considering this requested accommodation.
5. To meet with a teacher at a mutually agreeable time if the parent is unable to attend a regularly scheduled parent teacher conference.

Utah Code § 53G-6-803(2)-(4), (6), (8) (2019)

Parent rights regarding alternative credit and testing

Students shall be allowed, consistent with the requirements of the Utah State Board of Education, to earn course credit toward high school graduation without completing a course in school by either testing out of the course or demonstrating competency in course standards.

Utah Code § 53G-6-803(7) (2019)

Parent rights regarding assessments

At the request of a parent, a student shall be excused from taking such assessments as provided for in regulations issued by the Utah State Board of Education and according to the procedures in those regulations. Schools may not require procedures to be excused from assessments in addition to the procedures established by State Board regulations. Schools may not provide a nonacademic reward to a student for taking assessments that are included in the list of assessments established by the State Board as assessments from which students may be excused.

Utah Code § 53G-6-803(9) (2019)

Parent rights regarding student absences

A school shall record an excused student absence when contacted by the student’s parent/guardian, in accordance with the guidelines identified in Policy FBB-Compulsory Education.

Utah Code § 53G-6-803(5) (2019)

Parent rights regarding student discipline

As required by Policy FHA-Safe Schools, parents will be provided a copy of that policy (which is the student conduct and discipline policy) and shall acknowledge by signature receiving the policy.

When a student is suspended for any period of time or is recommended for expulsion, the student’s parent shall be provided notice of the violation or violations upon which disciplinary action is to be based and shall have an opportunity to respond as set forth in the Safe Schools Policy.

Utah Code § 53G-6-803(10) (2019)

Notice of parent rights

Each student’s parent shall be given annual notice of parental rights and school responsibilities under this policy. This notice may be given by posting it on the District or school website or through other means of electronic communication.

Utah Code § 53G-6-802 (2019)