Committee approves waiver requests for Canyon Grove Academy expansion and Valley Academy satellite campus

The Utah State Board of Education’s Law and Licensing Committee on a voice vote approved two administrative-waiver requests and forwarded both items to the full board for final action.

Canyon Grove Academy sought a waiver of the Utah Administrative Code deadline that requires schools to report small expansions by Oct. 1, saying the request stems from changes to the state'administered Utah Fits All scholarship program enacted during the 2025 legislative session. The school asked permission to add up to 100 seats for the 2025–26 school year. AAG Beal summarized the waiver request and said Canyon Grove had the state charter school board's support. The committee approved the waiver and voted to forward the request to the board for approval.

The committee also approved a waiver for Valley Academy Charter to correct a clerical error tied to the Oct. 1 reporting requirement for a satellite campus. Director Stevens told the committee the charter had secured state charter board approval in January 2024 but later discovered the paperwork referenced the 2026–27 school year, leading to the missed reporting window. The committee voted to forward Valley Academy's waiver to the full board; the record shows four affirmative votes and one abstention from Board Member Lear.

Neither motion created new conditions on the schools beyond the waiver request and both were forwarded to the full board for final approval.

The committee also noted Superintendent Goetz would be available to answer any additional questions from the board when the items are considered at the next stage.