Committee moves to 10‑year standards cycle, approves multiple curricula for trafficking/abuse prevention

The Standards and Assessment Committee agreed to a redesigned standards‑revision process and approved several curricular materials for child sexual abuse and human‑trafficking prevention after modest edits.

Megan Everett, director of teaching and learning, described a proposed "full standards" process that moves to a 10‑year review cycle with a research/review committee and a separate writing committee working concurrently. The package adds a new "lead liaison" role to facilitate coordination among committees and the board, builds four scheduled collaboration points for board input, and recommends a research phase prior to drafting. The committee voted to forward the June 2026 standards revision process to the full board for final approval.

On instructional materials, presenters Tanya Albernos and Mindy Elliot described child‑safety curricula and recommended edits to localize content. For curriculum item 24850 (vector/venture safe‑schools materials), the committee instructed staff to replace the phrase "revenge porn" with the statutory term "sextortion" and to ensure resource pages reference Utah agencies rather than Ohio; staff will verify video references before the full board. Related items 24846 and 24852 (on combatting trafficking and K–6 abuse prevention) were recommended and forwarded for final board approval.

The motions to move the standards process and to forward the curricula passed unanimously. Staff said they will circulate updated drafts and changes to the committee before the materials are placed on the full board agenda.