First Substitute S.B. 57

Senator Mark B. Madsen proposes the following substitute bill:

1 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AMENDMENTS
2 2007 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Mark B. Madsen
5 House Sponsor: Michael T. Morley
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill allows a student who resides in Utah to receive a diploma based on certain
10 assessment results.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . allows a student who resides in Utah to receive a high school diploma if the student
14 passes the basic skills competency test and receives certain scores on the ACT.
15 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53A-1-611, as last amended by Chapter 7, Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth Special Session
22 ENACTS:
23 53A-15-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

26 Section 1. Section 53A-1-611 is amended to read:
27 53A-1-611. Standards and assessment processes to measure student performance
28 -- Basic skills competency test.
29 (1) The Legislature recognizes the need for the State Board of Education to develop
30 and implement standards and assessment processes to ensure that student progress is measured
31 and that school boards and school personnel are accountable.
32 (2) (a) In addition to its responsibilities under Sections 53A-1-603 through 53A-1-605 ,
33 the State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public instruction, shall
34 design a basic skills competency test to be administered in the tenth grade.
35 (b) A student must pass the basic skills competency test, in addition to the established
36 requirements of the state and local board of education of the district in which the student
37 attends school, in order to receive a basic high school diploma of graduation.
38 (c) The state board shall include in the test, at a minimum, components on English
39 language arts and reading and mathematics.
40 (d) A student who fails to pass all components of the test may not receive a basic high
41 school diploma but may receive a certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma
42 under rules made by the State Board of Education in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
43 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
44 (e) The state board shall make rules:
45 (i) to allow students who initially fail the test to retake all or part of the test; and
46 (ii) that take into account and are consistent with federal law relating to students with
47 disabilities in the administration of the test.
48 (3) The state board shall implement the tenth grade basic skills competency test, no
49 later than the beginning of the 2003-04 school year.
50 (4) The requirements of this section are to be complementary to the other achievement
51 testing provisions of this part.
52 (5) No age restrictions shall apply to students to take the basic skills competency test.
53 Section 2. Section 53A-15-104 is enacted to read:
54 53A-15-104. Diploma awarded to Utah students based on assessments.
55 (1) A student who resides in Utah shall, upon request of the student's parent or
56 guardian, receive a diploma issued by the State Board of Education, if the student:

57 (a) passes the basic skills competency test provided by Section 53A-1-611 ; and
58 (b) receives a score on each ACT subtest that ranks in the top 15% of Utah students'
59 scores for the subtest.
60 (2) (a) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to the ACT optional writing subtest.
61 (b) A student may satisfy the requirement in Subsection (1)(b) with subtest scores from
62 different administrations of the ACT.
63 (3) A diploma issued by the State Board of Education pursuant to this section shall
64 indicate the recipient has met state high school graduation requirements by demonstrating
65 mastery of knowledge and skills through assessments.