H.B. 374

1

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AMENDMENTS
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Kory M. Holdaway
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the State System of Public Education Code's requirements for
10 receiving a high school diploma.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . requires a student to pass the basic skills competency test and satisfy other
14 graduation requirements to receive a high school diploma that states the student
15 passed all components of the basic skills competency test;
16 . provides that, in accordance with State Board of Education rules, a student who fails
17 to pass all components of the basic skills competency test may receive:
18 * a diploma that states the components of the basic skills competency test passed
19 or that the student did not pass all components of the basic skills competency
20 test; or
21 * a certificate of completion; and
22 . directs the State Board of Education to make rules providing for:
23 * reciprocity in awarding diplomas for students who pass a high school exit exam
24 in another state;
25 * adult education students to take the basic skills competency test; and
26 * adult education students who pass the GED to receive a diploma that states the
27 student passed a basic skills test.

28 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
29 None
30 Other Special Clauses:
31 None
32 Utah Code Sections Affected:
33 AMENDS:
34 53A-1-611, as last amended by Chapter 7, Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth Special Session
35
36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 53A-1-611 is amended to read:
38 53A-1-611. Standards and assessment processes to measure student performance
39 -- Basic skills competency test.
40 (1) The Legislature recognizes the need for the State Board of Education to develop
41 and implement standards and assessment processes to ensure that student progress is measured
42 and that school boards and school personnel are accountable.
43 (2) (a) In addition to its responsibilities under Sections 53A-1-603 through 53A-1-605 ,
44 the State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public instruction, shall
45 design a basic skills competency test to be administered in the tenth grade.
46 [(b) A student must pass the basic skills competency test, in addition to the established
47 requirements of the state and local board of education of the district in which the student
48 attends school, in order to receive a basic high school diploma of graduation.]
49 [(c)] (b) The state board shall include in the test, at a minimum, components on
50 English language arts and reading and mathematics.
51 [(d) A student who fails to pass all components of the test may not receive a basic high
52 school diploma but may receive a certificate of completion or alternative completion diploma
53 under rules made by the State Board of Education in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
54 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.]
55 (3) Except as provided in rules made in accordance with Subsection (5)(c), a student
56 shall pass the basic skills competency test and satisfy graduation requirements established by
57 the State Board of Education and local board of education or charter school to receive a high
58 school diploma that states the student passed all components or subtests of the basic skills

59 competency test.
60 (4) In accordance with rules made by the State Board of Education, a student who fails
61 to pass all components or subtests of the basic skills competency test may receive:
62 (a) a high school diploma that states:
63 (i) the components or subtests passed by the student; or
64 (ii) the student did not pass all subtests or components of the basic skills competency
65 test; or
66 (b) a certificate of completion.
67 [(e)] (5) The state board shall make rules:
68 [(i)] (a) to allow students who initially fail the test to retake all or part of the test; [and]
69 [(ii)] (b) that take into account and are consistent with federal law relating to students
70 with disabilities in the administration of the test[.];
71 (c) that provide for reciprocity in awarding diplomas for a student who passed a high
72 school exit exam in another state;
73 (d) that provide for adult education students to participate in administrations of the
74 basic skills test; and
75 (e) that provide for an adult education student who exited the public education system
76 and passed the GED test to receive a high school diploma that states the student passed a basic
77 skills test.
78 [(3)] (6) The state board shall implement the tenth grade basic skills competency test,
79 no later than the beginning of the 2003-04 school year.
80 [(4)] (7) The requirements of this section are to be complementary to the other
81 achievement testing provisions of this part.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-30-06 9:58 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel