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Board committee directs content rubrics to include required general-rubric components; approves combined science-of-reading/general rubric
Summary
After lengthy discussion, the assessment committee directed USBE staff to ensure content-specific rubrics include required components from the agency’s general rubric and voted to approve a combined science-of-reading and general rubric for curriculum review.
The assessment committee directed USBE staff to require that content-specific curriculum rubrics include the mandatory components of the agency’s general rubric and not duplicate rating items. Committee members discussed implementation complexities before unanimously approving the directive and then approving a combined science-of-reading (SOR) checklist and the general rubric.
Julie Clark and content specialists explained that Utah law (SB127) and the state science-of-reading panel produced a detailed SOR checklist that the agency has been using to review K–3 core materials and interventions. USBE staff said the SOR checklist had been incorporated into board rule R277406 in April 2024 and that a separate general rubric contained compliance items required by state code (ethnic studies, shared values/character traits, and other legal requirements).
Staff described implementation issues: publishers and reviewers currently consult multiple checklists (the SOR checklist, an evidence-based checklist for interventions, and the general rubric). Several content specialists said the practical reviewing process and vendor expectations improved if required compliance components appear in each content rubric as a clearly identified section rather than in separate documents.
After extended discussion about reviewer workflow, publisher clarity and digital reviews in the RIMS system, the committee first voted to direct staff: “Content-specific rubrics created and used by USBE shall include the required components of the general rubric and should not duplicate rating items.” That motion passed unanimously. The committee then voted to approve the combined SOR and general rubrics and to incorporate the combined checklist into board rule for tier-1 instructional materials. Staff told the committee they expect to complete remaining content-rubric updates by July and will digitize the checklists into the RIMS review system.
The committee’s actions are procedural: they establish how USBE will structure curriculum-review rubrics, consolidate incorporated checklists for tier-1 materials, and instruct staff to avoid duplicated rating items across documents. Committee members said the changes are intended to reduce confusion for publishers and reviewers and streamline the RIMS submission and review process.
