NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE
1. Agency Information
Education, Administration
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200
2. Contact Persons
Elisse.newey@schools.utah.gov
Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.
3. General Information
A. Rule or section catchline:
R277-334. Classroom Technology and Artificial Intelligence Governance
B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:
This new rule is necessary due to the passage of HB 273 during the 2026 General Session.
C. Summary of the new rule or change:
This new rule requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to:
1) adopt balanced technology use and artificial intelligence policies;
2) implement grade-level instructional technology requirements;
3) provide educator training, parent transparency, and student protections related to instructional technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) use;
4) establish resource plans for students with technology-related learning difficulties, implement compliance, reporting, and monitoring procedures; and
5) establish safeguards and parent consent requirements for AI sandbox courses.
4. Legislative Action Information
A. Are any changes in this filing
because of state legislative action?
Changes are because of legislative action.
B. If yes, any bill number and
session:
HB 273 (2026 General Session)
5. Fiscal Information
Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:
This new rule is not expected to have fiscal impact on state government revenues or expenditures.
This new rule is created due to HB 273 (2026) and the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) believes any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note for HB 273 (2026).
This new rule is not expected to have fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures.
This new rule is created due to HB 273 (2026) and the USBE believes any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note for HB 273 (2026).
C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):
This new rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on small businesses' revenues or expenditures.
This new rule is created due to HB 273 (2026) and the USBE believes any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note for HB 273 (2026).
D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):
There are no non-small businesses in the industry in question, Elementary and Secondary Schools (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 611110). Because there are no non-small businesses, they do not account for any service delivery for Elementary and Secondary Schools. Therefore, non-small businesses are not expected to receive increased or decreased revenues per year. This new rule is not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures because there are no applicable non-small businesses, and it does not require any expenditures of, or generate revenue for non-small businesses.
E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency):
This new rule is not expected to have fiscal impact on revenues or expenditures for persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.
This new rule is created due to HB 273 (2026) and the USBE believes any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note for HB 273 (2026).
F. Compliance costs for affected persons:
There are no compliance costs for affected persons.
This new rule is created due to HB 273 (2026) and the USBE believes any fiscal impacts were captured in the fiscal note for HB 273 (2026).
6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table
Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable."
7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval
The State Superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, Molly Hart, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis.
8. Family Impact Information
A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and formation:
9. Citation Information
Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:
11. Public Notice Information
The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.
A. Comments will be accepted until:
12. Effective Date Information
This rule change MAY become effective on:
(NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date)
13. Agency Authorization Information
Agency head or
designee and title:
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of
Policy
R277. Education, Administration.
R277-334. Classroom Technology and Artificial Intelligence Governance. R277-334-1. Authority and Purpose. (1) This rule is authorized by: (a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board; (b) Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; (c) Section 53E-4-202, which requires the Board to incorporate artificial intelligence, digital literacy, media literacy, and technology standards into Utah core standards; (d) Section 53G-7-228, which requires the Board to: (i) create a model policy on balanced technology use in the classroom; (ii) establish grade-level frameworks for instructional technology use; (iii) adopt methods for evaluating instructional technology effectiveness; and (iv) make rules to implement classroom technology requirements; (e) Section 53G-7-229, which requires LEAs to establish resource plans for students with technology-related learning difficulties; (f) Section 53G-7-1402, which requires the Board to: (i) publish and maintain a model artificial intelligence use policy; and (ii) establish standards for LEA compliance, policy submission, implementation, and educator training; and (g) Section 53G-7-1403, which requires the Board to establish ethical use guidelines for AI sandbox courses. (2) The purpose of this rule is to: (a) establish statewide standards for balanced instructional technology use in Utah public schools; (b) establish minimum standards for LEA instructional technology policies and artificial intelligence use policies; (c) establish grade-level instructional technology requirements; (d) establish educator training, parent transparency, and student protection requirements regarding instructional technology and artificial intelligence; (e) establish standards for LEA monitoring, reporting, and compliance; and (f) establish safeguards and ethical use standards for artificial intelligence sandbox courses. (1) "Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means the same as that term is defined in Section 13-72-101. (2) "Artificial intelligence sandbox course" or "AI sandbox course" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-1401. (3) "Artificial intelligence tool" or "AI tool" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-1401. (4) "Direct instruction" means educator-led instruction involving active supervision, interaction, guidance, facilitation, or instructional support provided by a licensed educator or designated educational personnel. (5) "Generative artificial intelligence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 13-77-101. (6) "High-stakes artificial intelligence interaction" means the same as that term is defined in Section 13-77-101. (7) "High-stakes determination" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-1402. (8) "Instructional technology" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-228. (9) "Non-essential screen-time" means student screen exposure not directly connected to instructional objectives, direct instruction, supervised academic activities, or approved educational accommodations. (10) "Screen-time" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-228. (11) "Technology-related learning difficulty" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-229. R277-334-3. LEA Instructional Technology Standards. (1) Before permitting the use of instructional technology in a classroom, an LEA shall ensure the instructional technology: (a) is designed specifically for instructional use; (b) supports identified instructional goals or learning outcomes; (c) is supported by evidence, data, or demonstrated educational value appropriate to the grade level; (d) is safe for a student's physical, cognitive, and emotional development; (e) minimizes distraction, interference with instruction, or reduction in academic focus; (f) complies with Title 53E, Chapter 9, Student Privacy and Data Protection; (g) complies with Section 53G-10-103 regarding sensitive instructional materials; (h) is intentionally integrated into instruction to enhance student learning outcomes (i) is not used as a substitute for direct instruction; and (j) complies with LEA student data governance procedures established under Title 53E, Chapter 9. (2) An LEA shall establish procedures for the selection, deployment, monitoring, evaluation, and periodic review of instructional technology. (3) An LEA shall maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with this section, including: 
