Section R277-217-2 - Prohibited Conduct by an EducatorAn educator may not:
(1) be convicted of a felony;(2) be convicted of a misdemeanor offense that:(a) adversely affects the educator's ability to perform an assigned duty and carry out the educator's responsibilities; or(b) adversely affects the well being of students;(3) be convicted of, or engage in conduct of a sexual nature described in Subsection 53E-6-603(2);(4) participate in sexual, physical, or emotional harassment towards any colleague or public school-age student;(5) engage in: (a) a single egregious instance or pattern of inappropriate contact in any communication, including written, verbal, or electronic, with a minor, student, colleague, or member of the community; or (b) a single egregious instance or pattern of boundary violations with a student;(6) solicit, encourage, or consummate an inappropriate relationship, whether written, verbal, or physical, with a student or minor;(7) accept an inappropriate gift from, or give an inappropriate gift to, a student;(8) be convicted of or commit a criminal offense involving a child, including physical abuse, cruelty, or exploitation of child;(9) use corporal punishment, excessive physical force, or inappropriate physical restraint, except as provided in Section 53G-8-302;(10) provide alcohol or unauthorized drugs to a student or allow a student under the educator's supervision or control to consume or obtain alcohol or unauthorized drugs;(11) attend school or a school-related activity in an assigned employment-related capacity while possessing, using, or under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug;(12) attend school or a school-related activity in an assigned employment-related capacity after intentionally exceeding the prescribed dosage of a prescription medication that may impair the educator;(13) possess or distribute an illegal drug or be convicted of any crime related to an illegal drug, including a prescription drug not specifically prescribed to the educator;(14) be convicted of an alcohol-related offense;(15) use or attempt to use an LEA computer or information system to access information that may be detrimental to young people or inconsistent with the educator's role model responsibility;(16) knowingly possess, while at school or any school-related activity, any pornographic or indecent material in any form;(17) use school equipment to intentionally view, create, distribute, or store pornographic or indecent material in any form;(18) knowingly use, view, create, distribute, or store pornographic or indecent material involving children;(19) expose students to sensitive materials:(a) as defined in Section 53G-10-103; and(b) as determined by the educator's LEA.(20) violate state laws regarding the possession of a firearm while on school property or at a school-sponsored activity;(21) knowingly allow a student to violate an LEA policy or law concerning possession or access to a weapon;(22) interfere with or discourage a student's or colleague's legitimate exercise of constitutional, legal, or civil rights, acting consistent with the law and an LEA's policy;(23) discriminate against, harass, exclude a student from participating in any program, deny or grant any benefit to a student, or encourage a student to develop a prejudice on the basis of:(g) political or religious belief;(h) physical or mental condition;(i) family, social, or cultural background;(j) sexual orientation; or(k) gender identification;(24) invite, suggest, or encourage a student to reconsider or change the student's sexual orientation or gender identity;(25) use the educator's position, through instruction, materials, or symbols, to actively endorse, promote, or disparage a particular partisan, religious, denominational, sectarian, agnostic, or atheistic belief or viewpoint, in a manner inconsistent with the policy of the educator's LEA;(26) knowingly or intentionally permit unauthorized collection, sharing, or use of student data;(27) knowingly violate student confidentiality unless revealing confidential information to an authorized person serves the best interest of the student and serves a lawful purpose;(28) violate: (i) Title 67, Chapter 16, Utah Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act;(ii) Title 53E, Chapter 9, Student Privacy and Data Protection;(iii) Rule R277-107, Educational Services Outside of an Educator's Regular Employment;(iv) Section R277-120-5, Classroom Materials Developed by Utah Educators; or(v) Sections 53G-10-401 through 53G-10-403, Rule R277-474, or other Utah law regarding sex education; or(29) cheat or engage in academic dishonesty, whether on behalf of a student, or in the educator's own educational pursuits.Utah Admin. Code R277-217-2
Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2020-04, effective 2/7/2020Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2021-08, effective 4/8/2021Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2024-02, effective 1/10/2024