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Policies & Procedures

Purpose of the Charter School

  • We have been called to create; to explore what is possible within ourselves and to bring that which we imagine into the real world. Students, faculty, and administrators alike share this passion along with genuine respect for the creative power. By intertwining the talents, curiosity, and perspectives of each individual, we take collaboration to the next level and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of the creative process.
  • We are committed to providing the highest caliber education with pre-professional training in the arts to talented young people in Utah. Candid feedback is the hallmark of our teaching style, and we've set the bar high when it comes to creating and contributing original works. We aim to grow, refine, and showcase students in the Arts, while also preparing them for future achievements and placement in top universities. 
  • We strive to be a family where each person feels empowered to connect their passion with a meaningful purpose for their life. We cultivate a broader perspective of the world to promote diversity, unity, and a sincere belief in possibilities - a "whole-person development" with a fusion of artistic programs, rigorous curriculums, and advanced placement opportunities. We understand that this is a process, not a destination.

Key Elements of the Charter School

  • Utah Arts Academy will showcase and highlight student art (dance, theatre, music, visual, and media arts, etc.) throughout its building and community, ensuring an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
  • Student artwork will be instrumental in creating culture.
  • Student artwork will also be used to create opportunities for students to collaborate with full-time working arts professionals (considered to be “A” list in their respective industries) - locally and nationally, through performance or visual art learning experiences as well as through next level opportunities - professional and/or university. 
  • In looking at best-practices and what future businesses are expecting in their hires, Utah Arts Academy will be collaborative in its process, always iterating each idea to continually improve in both artistic and academic endeavors.
  • Teachers will receive top training in best-practices from a variety of educational and professional institutions. These organizations will be at the top of their fields.
  • Teachers will offer high quality instructional pedagogy for students. 
  • Utah Arts Academy will promote civic engagement and equitable opportunity by connecting students more deeply to the world and open them up to new ways of thinking. 
  • Students will engage in diverse curricula, connecting with outside artists, educators and mentors. Students and staff will create a safe environment for diversity of thought.

UAA’s curriculum is fully accredited through SACS and AdvancED, and follows all Utah State Board of Education guidelines. Curriculum and teaching is consistent with USBE expectations and teachers are held to high standards of ethical behavior. Teachers use a variety of methods to disperse curriculum, including digitally and visually to students. Projectors and TV’s are used to visually represent content in each classroom, however we follow very strict guidelines for copyright infringement. Clips and vignettes are used to support teaching in the classroom, consistent with educational use. 

UAA strives to engage students in high level performance opportunities as well as generally accepted school practices like: pep rallies, assemblies, showcases, etc. All events/performances and activities happen within the school building and will not “spill” out into the common areas or parking space. Noise requirements are followed and students and faculty and staff are expected to remain professional and appropriate for the school and greater community. 

UAA involves students in theatre, dance, and music performances regularly, whether during school hours or after school hours as a showcase to parents and the community. Depending on the performance, tickets are pre-sold using an in-house ticketing system and all proceeds are used to support these performances and educational opportunities. UAA is a not-for-profit public school organization. Additionally, parents and community members (Booster Club) sell concessions to support art programs in the school as well as student trips and educational opportunities and scholarships.

UAA often brings in (in-person or digitally) professional individuals or groups to engage with students. This happens both during the school day, as well as after school. These events are for students or future students/families - engaging the community in high level artistic programming. If there is a fee associated with such events, the money collected specifically goes to support artistic programming, including paying the professional individuals or groups. 

UAA is a public school. Some of the upper-class students drive to and from school each day. UAA students and faculstaff will park in the designated parking only, and take care of the space - keeping it clean and safe. Additionally, UAA will park its two school buses in the back of the parking lot, so as to not interfere with any business or aesthetic of the property. This is consistent with normal operation of a school, particularly a charter school in Utah. 

UAA is dedicated to a safe school environment. Students will have one entrance point (which will be the front of the school), and will not be allowed to use other exterior doors to enter/exit classrooms. This will include lunch and after school. Teachers will have access to other doors, as needed, and all keys will be a digital fob. Additionally, the inside of the school as well as the parking lot, will have an internal camera system to ensure that students and faculty, and staff are safe and protected throughout the school day. UAA will have a School Resource Officer (SRO) that is trained and employed by the St. George Police Department. This is another element to keep students safe, and our community and neighbors happy. 

UAA understands that having two months off during the summer is detrimental to the academic and artistic success of the student. For this purpose, UAA will engage students and future students in high level programming throughout the summer months. All fees accepted and paid are only to support the programs and not used to increase profit or bottom-line. 

Complaints or concerns can be filed by following the process as outlined here. Hotline Complaints go directly to the State Board of Education Internal Audit Department and may be referred back to the LEA.
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Public Education Hotline can be reached by calling (801) 538-7813. 

What is the USBE Public Education Hotline?
The USBE Public Education Hotline is a resource for individuals to report concerns or complaints related to public education in Utah. 

How else can you contact the USBE Internal Audit Department?
Besides the hotline, you can also reach the USBE Internal Audit Department through these methods: 

Online: Fill out the Report a Concern Form on the USBE website.
Email: Send an email to audit@schools.utah.gov.
Mail: Send a letter to:
Utah State Board of Education
Internal Audit Department
Attention: Debbie Davis
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200