SAFE Act (Software Accountability for Education)

What the SAFE Act Does

What is the SAFE Act

Why this Matters for Families

How the SAFE Act and the Balance Act Work Together

The SAFE Act

Legislation that protects students and holds technology accountable — because safety isn’t optional.

What parents are seeing...

Screen-based learning is now common in classrooms, often introduced without clear standards for safety, effectiveness, or appropriate use. As use expands, so have distractions, inconsistencies, and confusion for families about the tools being used—and whether they truly help children learn.

Parents aren't anti-technology.
​
They just want reassurance that classroom tools are safe—and actually work.

Parents are asking:

Is this software safe for my child?
Who approved it?
Does it follow privacy and sensitive-materials laws?
Is it actually helping student learn?

The SAFE Act exists to answer those questions clearly.

What the SAFE Act does

The SAFE Act (Software Accountability for Education) establishes a clear, statewide standard for instructional software used in Utah public schools. It focuses on student data privacy, age-appropriate content, and evidence-based learning standards for classroom software.
Before software is used with students, it must be proven to be:
Safe
Legal
Effective for learning
Responsibility rests with vendors and systems—not teachers or families.

Why this matters for families

Without clear standards, classroom technology can:
  • Collect unnecessary student data
  • Expose children to unvetted or age-inappropriate content
  • Prioritize engagement and screen time over learning​
The SAFE Act changes this by making accountability the rule—not the exception.

What the SAFE Act delivers

  • Protects students from unsafe or inappropriate software
  • Enforces existing privacy and sensitive-materials laws
  • Increases transparency for parents
  • Creates consistent expectations statewide
  • Keeps accountability where it belongs​
Because when it comes to children, safety isn’t optional.

What this means for your family

  • Safety isn’t optional.
  • Classroom technology must meet clear, common-sense standards.
  • Parents can feel confident in what’s used with their children.
The SAFE Act helps ensure the digital tools used with your child meet clear safety, privacy, and learning standards.

How the SAFE Act and the Balance Act work together

One framework. Two essential roles. 
The SAFE Act defines what tools are allowed.
The Balance Act defines how tools are used.
Together, these changes mean:
Students are better protected.
Teachers get the support they need.
Parents can feel confident about what’s happening in classrooms.
Learning comes first — not convenience.
Utah’s kids deserve schools that help them learn and thrive.
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