Senator Aaron Osmond proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATION AMENDMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Aaron Osmond

5     
House Sponsor: Daniel McCay

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends and enacts certain graduation requirements and incentives.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     requires a public school to prepare a sample early graduation schedule to provide to
13     an eighth grade student and the student's parent or guardian;
14          ▸     requires a public school to prepare a sample college-ready schedule to provide to an
15     eighth grade student and the student's parent or guardian;
16          ▸     requires a public school to notify an eighth grade student and the student's parent or
17     guardian of early graduation requirements, the centennial scholarship requirements,
18     and certain college-ready courses; and
19          ▸     increases the centennial scholarship amount for students who graduate high school
20     early.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:

26     AMENDS:
27          53A-15-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 96
28     ENACTS:
29          53A-15-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30     

31     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32          Section 1. Section 53A-15-102 is amended to read:
33          53A-15-102. Early graduation incentives -- Incentive to school district -- Partial
34     tuition scholarship for student -- Payments.
35          (1) Any secondary public school student who has completed all required courses or
36     demonstrated mastery of required skills and competencies may, with the approval of the
37     student, the student's parent or guardian, and an authorized local school official, graduate at any
38     time.
39          (2) Each public high school shall receive an amount equal to 1/2 of the scholarship
40     awarded to each student who graduates from the school at or prior to the conclusion of the
41     eleventh grade, or a proportionately lesser amount for any student who graduates after the
42     conclusion of the eleventh grade but prior to the conclusion of the twelfth grade.
43          (3) (a) A student who graduates from high school at or prior to the conclusion of the
44     eleventh grade shall receive a centennial scholarship in the lesser amount of full tuition for one
45     year or [$1,000] $2,000 to be used for full time enrollment at a Utah public college, university,
46     community college, applied technology center, or any other institution in the state of Utah,
47     accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges that offers postsecondary
48     courses of the student's choice upon verification that the student has registered at the institution
49     during the fiscal year following graduation from high school.
50          (b) In the case of a student who graduates after the conclusion of the eleventh grade but
51     prior to the conclusion of the twelfth grade, the student shall receive a centennial scholarship of
52     a proportionately lesser amount.
53          (4) (a) The payments authorized in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) shall be made during the
54     fiscal year that follows the student's graduation.
55          (b) The payments authorized in Subsection (3)(b) may be made during the fiscal year in
56     which the student graduates or the fiscal year following the student's graduation.

57          (5) (a) The State Board of Education shall administer the payment program authorized
58     in Subsections (2), (3), and (4).
59          (b) (i) The Legislature shall make an annual appropriation from the Uniform School
60     Fund to the State Board of Education for the costs associated with the Centennial Scholarship
61     Program based on the projected number of students who will graduate before the conclusion of
62     the twelfth grade in any given year.
63          (ii) It is understood that the appropriation is offset by the state money that would
64     otherwise be required and appropriated for these students if they were enrolled in an additional
65     grade for a full year.
66          Section 2. Section 53A-15-106 is enacted to read:
67          53A-15-106. Early graduation course requirements -- College-ready course
68     requirements -- Student and parent notification of graduation course requirements during
69     eighth grade.
70          (1) For purposes of this section, "college-ready course" means a course that a student may
71     take in high school to reduce the need for the student to enroll in a college remediation course and
72     reduce the student's time and cost of college attendance, including:
73          (a) a concurrent enrollment course; or
74          (b) an advanced placement course.
75          (2) A public school that provides educational instruction to an eighth grade student shall:
76          (a) prepare and provide each eighth grade student, and the student's parent or guardian,
77     with:
78          (i) a sample early graduation schedule that the student may complete for the student to
79     graduate at, or before, the conclusion of the eleventh grade; and
80          (ii) a sample college-ready schedule that the student may complete for the student to be
81     prepared to enroll in college at the conclusion of the twelfth grade; and
82          (b) notify a student, and the student's parent or guardian, at the beginning of the student's
83     eighth grade year:
84          (i) that the student may graduate early;
85          (ii) of the requirements of the centennial scholarship described in Section 53A-15-102; and
86          (iii) of the college-ready courses that the State Board of Regents recommends a student
87     take during high school to be prepared to enroll in college.

88          (3) A sample early graduation schedule may include:
89          (a) an emphasis on completing core curriculum requirements;
90          (b) a summer school course;
91          (c) an early morning or after school course;
92          (d) an online course;
93          (e) credit earned by a student's demonstrated proficiency in a subject;
94          (f) completion of a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test;
95          (g) independent study;
96          (h) an open entry/open exit course; or
97          (i) a concurrent enrollment course.