Utah

Utah has taken steps to curtail CRT in primary education as well as higher education. HB 261 went into effect on July 1, 2024. The bill prohibits mandatory training for university students or faculty if it “asserts that an individual, by virtue of the individual’s personal identity characteristics, is inherently privileged, oppressed, racist, sexist, oppressive, or a victim, whether consciously or unconsciously.” Institutions are also restricted from expressing an opinion on “anti-racism, bias, critical race theory, implicit bias, intersectionality, prohibited discriminatory practices, or racial privilege.” Thus, ridding higher education in Utah of DEI offices. 

Higher Education

The Utah Board of Higher Education states it “is committed to working alongside all 16 public colleges and universities to intervene in widening opportunity gaps for underserved and underrepresented students.” They continue, “As we move forward in this important work, we will continue reviewing and revising all institutional policies and procedures that create structural barriers to student, faculty, and staff success.”

The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Workgroup is a standing workgroup to the Board of Higher Education. Its purpose is to foster collaboration and coordination among Board and System leadership and to cultivate and integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion awareness, transparency, and progress throughout the Utah System of Higher Education. (source)

K-12 Education

Critical Race Theory:

American history should be taught in a way that accurately depicts our country’s highs and lows, triumphs and mistakes. Although our nation’s history is complex, we continue to strive to be better. During a legislature-called extraordinary session, the Senate passed S.R. 901 Senate Resolution on Critical Race Theory in Public Schools, encouraging the State Board of Education to define critical race theory and review standards for curriculum. No curriculum or instruction materials in our state should include the following concepts:

• that one race is inherently superior or inferior to another race;
• that an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual’s race; or
• that an individual’s moral character is determined by the individual’s race.

Additionally, during our May interim meetings, the Education Interim Committee voted to study critical race theory throughout the year.

Sources: senate.utah.gov, senate.utah.gov, le.utah.gov