Utah
Utah Board of Ed reworks its ‘educational equity’ rule to match the new anti-DEI law
The Utah State Board of Education revised its “educational equity” rule during its Feb. 1 meeting to be in line with the state’s new anti-DEI law. But it was already on the chopping block prior to the law’s passage.
There were accusations that it was in conflict with a state law passed in 2023. And on Jan. 11, the board voted 8-7 to keep the rule, but they signaled changes could be coming.
The original rule defined educational equity as “acknowledging that all students are capable of learning and distributing resources to provide equal opportunities based upon the needs of each individual student. Equitable resources include funding, programs, policies, initiatives and supports that recognize each student’s unique background and school context to guarantee that all students have access to high-quality education.”
The rule is now called “Equal Opportunity in Education,” matching language in the new law, which was called “Equal Opportunity Initiatives.”
The phrase “educational equity” has been removed entirely. The new focus is defined as “acknowledging that all students are capable of learning and may need additional guidance, resources, and support based on their academic needs.”
During the board’s more than 7 hour discussion about the rule, board member Cindy Davis said, “ultimately, this is a training rule,” referencing training for educators.
Instead of instructing educators about “fostering a learning environment and workplace that are safe and respectful of all students and educators,” as was in the original rule, now training is to focus on creating “a learning environment which is safe, conducive to the learning process, and free from unnecessary disruption.”
The original rule also required educators to be trained in “implementing principles and strategies of inclusion, as they pertain to students and educators with diverse abilities and backgrounds.” The update focuses this section exclusively on students with disabilities.
And instead of promoting “viewpoint diversity,” educators are to be taught how to “promote the examination of various viewpoints on a topic in an impartial and politically neutral manner.”
The list of things that educators can’t be taught in professional training was expanded. The content now matches the list of “prohibited discriminatory practices” in the state’s anti-DEI law. This includes any training with diversity, equity and inclusion in its name.
Like the law, the updated rule says schools and districts can have offices or employees that provide support, guidance and resources to students, as long as they’re focused on all students.
Darlene McDonald, a community activist and director of 1Utah Project, was a vocal advocate for the original rule. While she was open to changing it, she said in a statement the amended version “is no longer a rule worth defending.”
McDonald said the original provided students, educators and schools with “the necessary tools to handle emerging social issues.” The new one, “is simply a copy and paste” of the state’s new law and strays from the original intent of the rule. She said the board should change the name of the rule “to reflect what it really is, Administrative Rule R277-328 Culture War in Schools.”
In an interview with KUER, McDonald said the decision felt like a “gut punch.” and offers less clarity. McDonald got emotional reading through what was deleted, including a line that required teachers to be trained on “acknowledging and respecting differences by looking for the good in everyone, including oneself, and showing due regard for feelings, rights, cultures, and traditions.”
After the board voted to keep the rule in January, she was hopeful about any possible changes. But what the board created is a completely new rule that undid all the work that went into creating the original in 2021.
The vote to adopt the amended version was 10-4. Board members Emily Green, Christina Boggess, Joseph Kerry and Natalie Cline were against it.
Boggess proposed they postpone making final changes until their meeting the next day given how long that day’s board meeting had been. But others didn’t want to leave it as unfinished business. Kerry also wanted to put the brakes on things since the new anti-DEI law had just been passed and he said the state’s higher education was still figuring out what this law meant for them.
“If there’s some unspoken reason why we’re, we’re moving like the barn’s on fire. I don’t understand it,” Kerry said.
Lawmakers had proposed a bill to reauthorize every state agency’s rules, except for the State Board of Education’s educational equity rule. That bill was circled the day before the board’s meeting. Per state code, the public can still weigh in on the amended rule for the next month.
UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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