The Utah State Board of Education reopened debate on a request to seek a legislative amendment allowing broader parental opt‑outs from certain assessments. The measure would have added language to state code specifying that computer adaptive assessments or assessments administered by an LEA in lieu of state tests could be subject to an explicit opt‑out.

Board member Boggess argued the code change would ensure parents’ decisions to refuse an assessment are respected in practice, citing constituent reports that schools sometimes did not honor opt‑out requests. Member Carrie urged caution — noting existing right‑of‑conscience provisions and raising the question of whether the proposed change was necessary.

The board first voted to reconsider the motion passed at the previous day’s meeting, 8–6. After further discussion and a final vote on the request to send proposed language to the Legislature, the motion failed 11–4. Members who voted against the measure said existing code and right‑of‑conscience provisions already provide opt‑out avenues and worried new language could create unintended conflicts with federal and state assessment requirements.

The board did not adopt the specific legislative language offered at the meeting; members asked staff to provide clearer guidance on the interplay between existing opt‑out provisions and computer adaptive or district‑administered assessments before pursuing statutory changes.