SALT LAKE CITY — Education leaders announced a name change Thursday for the Utah State Office of Education.
The name has historically included some 330 members of administrative staff for the Utah State Board of Education. Starting Friday, both elected board members and their staff will be collectively called the Utah State Board of Education.
Board members voted in April to sunset the use of the former name in an effort to eliminate confusion of two entities with potentially competing policy positions.
State lawmakers this year also recognized conflicting language in statute that referenced the Utah State Office of Education, though the office was never constitutionally recognized. The Legislature subsequently passed a bill that deletes all mention of the Utah State Office of Education in code.
"Unifying in name will eliminate confusion that has likely weakened our ability to effectively communicate and advocate for students," board Chairman David Crandall said in a prepared statement.
The change will not affect operations and services offered by the staff, but changes to building signs and office documents are in process. The board and the office have had two separate websites, but website changes are moving forward, according to education officials.
"This change unifies us, not just in purpose, but in name and formalizes work done over the past few years to create one team and one voice," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson said in a prepared statement.