1. (1) A public school receiving School LAND Trust program funds shall have:

   1. (a) a school community council as required by Section 53G-7-1202 and Rule R277-491;
   2. (b) a charter council as required by Section 53G-7-1205; or
   3. (c) a charter board council as required by Section 53G-7-1205.
2. (2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), the USDB Advisory Council may fill the responsibilities of a school community council for USDB.

3. (3) To qualify to receive funds for an upcoming school year, a school's principal shall:

   1. (a) submit a Council Membership Form on the SLT reporting website demonstrating compliance with the required membership in Subsection (1) by October 20 annually;
   2. (b) submit a Principal Assurance Form on the SLT reporting website consistent with Subsection 53G-7-1206(3)(c) by October 20 annually;
   3. (c) complete all school website requirements consistent with Subsection R277-477-3(5)(c) for charter schools or Subsection R277-491-4(2) for district schools by October 20 annually;
   4. (d) submit a final report for the prior school year, approved by the budget officer or district liaison on the form provided through the SLT reporting website;
   5. (e) submit a School LAND Trust plan for the upcoming school year through the SLT reporting website consistent with Subsection 53G-7-1205(4); and
   6. (f) ensure all council members have an opportunity to provide a signature verifying their involvement consistent with Subsection (4).

4. (4)(a) The principal of a school shall ensure that a council member has an opportunity to provide a signature indicating the member's involvement in implementing the current School LAND Trust plan and developing the school plan for the upcoming year.

   1. (b) The principal shall collect a council member's signature at the Council plan approval meeting or at a later time consistent with LEA policies.
   2. (c) A school shall retain signatures collected under Subsection (4)(b) for no less than three years.
   3. (d) A school shall provide copies of signatures collected under Subsection (4)(b) to the LEA governing board before the Board plan approval meeting.
   4. (e) A governing board or designee may design the LEA's own form to collect the information required by this Subsection (4).
   5. (f) A board council is exempt from the requirement of collecting signatures as outlined in this Subsection (4)(b).

5. (5)(a) A district liaison or a budget officer shall collaborate with the LEA governing board to establish a timeline, including a deadline, for a school to submit a school's School LAND Trust plan on the SLT reporting website.

   1. (b) A timeline described in Subsection (5)(a) shall require a School LAND Trust plan to be ready for review by the Superintendent no later than May 15 for a district school or May 1 for a charter school, allowing sufficient time for the LEA governing board, through the district liaison, and budget officer to approve the plan or return the plan to the school's council for any necessary edits before resubmission and approval.

6. (6)(a) An LEA governing board and budget officer:

   1. (i) shall consider a plan annually; and

      1. (ii) may approve or disapprove a school plan.

   2. (b) If an LEA governing board and budget officer do not approve a plan, they shall:

      1. (i) provide a written explanation for the disapproval; and
      2. (ii) request that the school revise the plan, consistent with Subsection 53G-7-1206(4)(d).

7. (7)(a) After an LEA governing board has completed the plan review, the budget officer or district liaison shall enter the date of the governing board approval in the SLT reporting website before approving the plan on the SLT reporting website on behalf of the governing board.

   1. (b) Subsequently, the budget officer shall perform an additional review in accordance with Subsections (6)(a)(i) through (ii).
   2. (c) Upon completion of Subsection (7)(b), the budget officer or district liaison shall notify the Superintendent that the LEA's reviews are complete and the plan is ready for the Superintendent's review.
8. (8) For a school to receive its full distribution in July, the school's plan shall be ready for Superintendent review no later than May 15 for a district school and May 1 for a charter school.

9. (9)(a) Before approving a plan, an LEA governing board and budget officer shall review a School LAND Trust plan to confirm that a School LAND Trust plan contains:

   1. (i) priority academic areas listed in Subsection R277-477-5(3) or LEA-approved academic areas of greatest need for improvement;

      1. (ii) academic goal statements that align with the areas identified in Subsection (i) and have direct impact on student learning;
      2. (iii) measurement tools and baseline data for each academic area to assess progress and improvement toward the goals;
      3. (iv) specific action steps designed to achieve the academic goals;
      4. (v) detailed and specific expenditures to carry out the action steps and support academic improvement in the plan goals;
      5. (vi) an explanation for any planned carry-over that exceeds the school's applicable carry-over limit; and
      6. (vii) the date the council approved the plan, verified by the council vote that corresponds with the council membership in the Council Membership Form.
   2. (b) The LEA governing board shall determine whether a School LAND Trust plan is evidence-based and consistent with the approving entity's pedagogy, programs, and curriculum.
   3. (c) The president or chair of the LEA governing board shall provide training annually on the requirements of Section 53G-7-1206 and this rule to the members of the LEA governing board, district business administrator, district liaison, and the budget officer.

10. (10) By approving a plan, the LEA governing board, budget officer, and district liaison affirm that:

    1. (a) the plan has been through all LEA-level reviews; and
    2. (b) the plan meets the requirements of statute and rule.

11. (11)(a) After receiving the notice described in Subsection (7)(c), the Superintendent shall review each School LAND Trust plan for compliance with the law governing School LAND Trust plans.

    1. (b) The Superintendent shall report back to the budget officer, district liaison or charter principal when School LAND Trust plans are found to be out of compliance with the law.
    2. (c) An LEA governing board or the principal and budget officer for a charter school shall ensure that a School LAND Trust plan that is found to be out of compliance with the law by the Superintendent is amended or revised by the council to bring the school's School LAND Trust plan into compliance with the law.
12. (12) A school shall implement a plan as approved.
13. (13) If an LEA fails to comply with Subsection (11)(c), corrective action may be implemented consistent with Rule R277-114.

KEY: schools, trust lands funds, school community councils

Date of Last Change: February 9, 2026

Notice of Continuation: June 16, 2026

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401; 53F-2-404