Policy Number: 3430
Date: September 20th, 2022
Core Standards & Sensitive Materials in Schools Policy
Purpose
The policy of American Leadership Academy is to provide a variety of informational and educational resources to the school that support core standards, and classroom instruction, while providing opportunities for research, and meet differing educational and recreational reading and interests. These resources must also protect the students from sensitive and harmful materials.
Core Standards
In establishing minimum standards related to curriculum and instruction requirements under Section 53E-3-501, the Board of Trustees, in consultation with ALA administration, teachers, staff and parents will implement core standards that will enable students to, among other objectives:
1. Communicate effectively, both verbally and through written communication.
2. Be able to apply mathematics.
3. Be able to access, analyze and apply information.
The basic knowledge, skills, and competencies identified shall increase in depth and complexity from year to year and focus on consistent and continual progress within and between grade levels and courses in the basic academic areas of:
1. English, including explicit phonics, spelling, grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, speech, and listening.
2. Mathematics, including basic computational skills.
The school shall design their school programs that are supported by generally accepted scientific standards of evidence, to focus on the core standards for Utah public schools with the expectation that each program will enhance or help achieve mastery of the core standards for Utah public schools.
The school may select instructional materials recommended by the state board or other instructional materials the school considers appropriate to teach the core standards for Utah public schools.
Sensitive Instructional Materials
1. “Harmful to Minors” means that quality of any description or representation, in whatsoever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse when it taken as a whole;
a. appeals to the prurient interest in sex of minors;
b. is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors;
c. taken as a whole, does not have serious value for minors.
2. “Instructional Material” means a material, regardless of format, used as or in place of textbooks to deliver curriculum within the state curriculum framework for courses of study by students or to support a student’s learning in the school setting. It includes reading materials, handouts, videos, digital materials, websites, online applications and live presentations.
3. “Minor” means any person less than 18 years old.
4. “School Setting” includes an assembly, a guest lecture, a live presentation, or an event.
5. “Sensitive Material” means an instructional material that is pornographic or indecent material as that is harmful to minors as defined in Section 76-10-1235.
6. “Sensitive Material” does not include an instructional material that an LEA selects under Section 53G-10-402, that is for medical courses, for family and consumer science courses, or for another course the state board exempts in state board rule.
The school may not adopt, use, distribute, provide a student access to, or maintain in the school setting, sensitive materials or permit a speaker or presenter in the school setting to display or distribute sensitive materials. The school shall include parents who are reflective of the members of the school’s community when determining if an instructional material is sensitive material.