1
2
3
4
5
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts and amends provisions relating to world language requirements for
10 secondary students.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ provides for the State Board of Education to establish proficiency in a world
14 language as a graduation requirement;
15 ▸ provides for the State Board of Education to establish a biliterate proficiency seal;
16 ▸ establishes requirements for a student to receive a biliterate proficiency seal on the
17 student's high school diploma;
18 ▸ requires the State Board of Education to make rules;
19 ▸ requires a local education agency to place a biliterate proficiency seal on the high
20 school diploma of a qualifying student;
21 ▸ requires a local education agency to indicate on a qualifying student's high school
22 transcript that the student has received a biliterate proficiency seal; and
23 ▸ modifies the world language education requirement to qualify for a Board of
24 Regents scholarship.
25 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26 None
27 Other Special Clauses:
28 None
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 AMENDS:
31 53A-13-108, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 70
32 53B-8-109, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 64
33 ENACTS:
34 53A-13-108.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35
36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 53A-13-108 is amended to read:
38 53A-13-108. Curriculum and graduation requirements.
39 (1) The State Board of Education shall establish rigorous curriculum and graduation
40 requirements under Section 53A-1-402 for grades 9 through 12 that:
41 (a) are consistent with state law and federal regulations; and
42 (b) beginning no later than with the graduating class of 2008:
43 (i) use competency-based standards and assessments;
44 (ii) include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to
45 financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy test-out
46 option; and
47 (iii) increase graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science to
48 exceed the existing credit requirements of 3.0 units in language arts, 2.0 units in mathematics,
49 and 2.0 units in science.
50 (2) Beginning with the graduating class of 2020, the State Board of Education shall
51 establish a graduation requirement that a student shall at a minimum:
52 (a) study the same world language, as defined in Section 53A-13-108.1, for two years
53 during grades 7 through 12; or
54 (b) qualify for a biliterate proficiency seal described in Section 53A-13-108.1.
55 [
56 and assessments for elective courses.
57 [
58 course standards and objectives for the course of instruction in general financial literacy
59 described in Subsection (1)(b) that address:
60 (a) the costs of going to college, student loans, scholarships, and the Free Application
61 for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
62 (b) technology that relates to banking, savings, and financial products.
63 [
64 general financial literacy described in Subsection (1)(b) in the same manner as other core
65 curriculum courses for grades 9 through 12 are administered.
66 Section 2. Section 53A-13-108.1 is enacted to read:
67 53A-13-108.1. Biliterate proficiency seal.
68 (1) As used in this section:
69 (a) "Biliterate proficiency seal" means a seal placed on a student's high school diploma
70 that indicates a student has achieved:
71 (i) in a world language, a level of proficiency described in Subsection (2)(c)(i) in one
72 of the following three categories:
73 (A) novice;
74 (B) intermediate; or
75 (C) advanced; and
76 (ii) proficiency in English.
77 (b) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
78 (c) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
79 (i) a school district;
80 (ii) a charter school; or
81 (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
82 (d) "World language" means a language other than English, including:
83 (i) American Sign Language;
84 (ii) a classical language; or
85 (iii) an indigenous language.
86 (e) "Utah Performance Assessment System for Students" means the same as that term
87 is defined in Section 53A-1-602.
88 (2) The board shall:
89 (a) establish a biliterate proficiency seal for placement on a student's high school
90 diploma;
91 (b) prepare appropriate insignias for an LEA to place on a student diploma to indicate
92 each of the proficiency levels described in Subsection (1)(a)(i); and
93 (c) make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
94 Rulemaking Act, that:
95 (i) establish the requirements a student shall meet to achieve:
96 (A) a high level of proficiency in a novice category;
97 (B) at least a moderate level of proficiency in an intermediate category; and
98 (C) at least a low level of proficiency in an advanced category; and
99 (ii) require an LEA to determine whether a student meets the requirements for a
100 biliterate proficiency seal described in Subsection (3).
101 (3) A student shall receive a biliterate proficiency seal if the student demonstrates
102 proficiency in:
103 (a) a world language by meeting the proficiency requirements described in Subsection
104 (2)(c)(i); and
105 (b) English by:
106 (i) completing all English language arts graduation requirements with an overall grade
107 point average of 2.0 or above in English language arts classes; and
108 (ii) scoring at the proficient level or above on the Utah Performance Assessment
109 System for Students test in English language arts and literacy administered in grade 11.
110 (4) If a student qualifies to receive a biliterate proficiency seal, an LEA shall:
111 (a) place a biliterate proficiency seal on the student's high school diploma, indicating
112 the student's category of world language proficiency; and
113 (b) indicate on the student's high school transcript:
114 (i) that the student received a biliterate proficiency seal; and
115 (ii) the category of biliterate proficiency seal the student received.
116 Section 3. Section 53B-8-109 is amended to read:
117 53B-8-109. Regents' Scholarship Program -- Base Regents' scholarship --
118 Qualifications -- Application.
119 (1) A student qualifies for a Base Regents' scholarship if the student:
120 (a) completes the high school graduation requirements of:
121 (i) a public school established by the State Board of Education and the student's school
122 district or charter school; or
123 (ii) a private high school in the state that is accredited by a regional accrediting body
124 approved by the board;
125 (b) completes high school with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average;
126 (c) has at least one reported ACT test score; [
127 (d) (i) completes the following high school or college credit in grades 9-12:
128 (A) four units of credit of English;
129 (B) four units of credit of mathematics;
130 (C) three and one-half units of credit of social science; and
131 (D) three units of credit of lab-based natural science; and
132 [
133
134 (ii) except as provided in Subsection (4), earns a course grade on a transcript of "C" or
135 above in each individual course listed in Subsection (1)(d)(i)[
136 (e) demonstrates at a minimum, novice proficiency in a world language, as defined in
137 Section 53A-13-108.1, by:
138 (i) qualifying for a biliterate proficiency seal described in Section 53A-13-108.1;
139 (ii) completing the first and second year levels of the same world language, as defined
140 in Section 53A-13-108.1, in grades 7 through 12; or
141 (iii) another means acceptable to the board.
142 (2) The board shall establish policies to determine specific courses that meet the
143 requirements under Subsection (1)(d)(i).
144 (3) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student:
145 (a) shall submit an application to the board with:
146 (i) a copy of the student's official high school transcript and ACT scores; and
147 (ii) if applicable, a college transcript showing a college course the student has
148 completed to meet the requirements of Subsection (1)(d);
149 (b) shall be a citizen of the United States or a noncitizen who is eligible to receive
150 federal student aid;
151 (c) may not have a criminal record, with the exception of a misdemeanor traffic
152 citation; and
153 (d) if applicable, shall meet the application deadlines as established by the board under
154 Subsection 53B-8-108(9).
155 (4) For purposes of determining if a student meets the grade requirements of
156 Subsection (1)(d)(ii), the board shall assign additional weights to grades earned in courses
157 described in Subsection (1)(d)(i) that are advanced placement, concurrent enrollment, or
158 International Baccalaureate program courses.
159 (5) (a) The amount of the Base Regents' scholarship is $1,000.
160 (b) The board may adjust the amount of the Base Regents' scholarship by up to a
161 percentage of the average percentage tuition increase approved by the board for institutions in
162 the system of higher education.
163 (6) (a) The board shall require an applicant for a Regents' scholarship to certify under
164 penalty of perjury that:
165 (i) the applicant is a United States citizen; or
166 (ii) the applicant is a noncitizen who is eligible to receive federal student aid.
167 (b) The certification under this Subsection (6) shall include a statement advising the
168 signer that providing false information subjects the signer to penalties for perjury.