Starting a Private School in Utah
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Utah State Regulations
General Regulations
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There are no licensing, approval, or registration requirements, and accreditation is optional.
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The Utah State Board of Education includes regulations for private schools and home schools the Utah Administrative Code.
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The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Utah.
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Families must register with the state to homeschool.
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The Utah BOE has no published requirements for school insurance -- consult a professional for guidance in this area.
- For a list of current private schools in Utah, see the private school directory page.
State Funding Sources & Support
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Utah provides funding for private education:
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Special Education Carson Smith Scholarships: Provides funding for students with qualifying disabilities to attend private schools.
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Curriculum Requirements
Students are allowed to enroll part-time at a local public school to take electives or participate in activities not offered at the private school.
Teacher Certification & Hiring
Teacher certification is not required for private school teachers.
Food Services / Lunch
In Utah, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Board of Education.
Length of School Year
There is no state requirement for private schools’ length of the school year.
Recordkeeping & Reports
Schools must keep enrollment records and report the number of seniors attending the school to facilitate voter registration efforts.
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Students must provide certification of immunization or proof of a medical, personal, or religious exemption.
Transportation
Transportation is not provided by state or local district and all school buses must be inspected biannually.
Testing
Private school participation in state testing is optional.
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Utah State Resources
State & Regional Associations
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Northwest Association of Independent Schools: A nonprofit membership association that provides accreditation, professional development and support services to over 110 schools in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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