How many credits to graduate high school in Utah 2022

(1) The General Core and Core Standards for students in grades 9-12 are described in this section.

(2) A student in grades 9-12 is required to earn a minimum of 24 units of credit through course completion or through competency assessment consistent with R277-705 to graduate.

(3)

(a) Through recording of credits in a student's transcripts for grades 9-12, in accordance with Subsections R277-726-5(5) and R277-726-5(6), for purposes of high school graduation, an LEA shall recognize high school credits earned prior to grade 9 through participation in the Statewide Online Education Program.

(b) For funding purposes, the LEA should record the participating student's intention to graduate early.

(c) An LEA may not use high school courses to replace middle school educational requirements.

(4) The General Core credit requirements from courses approved by the Board are described in Subsections (4) through (18).

(5) Language Arts (4.0 units of credit from the following):

(a) Grade 9 level (1.0 unit of credit);

(b) Grade 10 level (1.0 unit of credit);

(c) Grade 11 level (1.0 unit of credit); and

(d) Grade 12 level (1.0 Unit of credit) consisting of applied or advanced language arts credit from the list of Board-approved courses using the following criteria and consistent with the student's Plan for College and Career Readiness:

(i) courses are within the field/discipline of language arts with a significant portion of instruction aligned to language arts content, principles, knowledge, and skills;

(ii) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of language arts;

(iii) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of language arts;

(iv) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and

(v) courses develop skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and presentation.

(6) Mathematics (3.0 units of credit) shall be met minimally through successful completion of a combination of the foundation or foundation extended courses, Secondary Mathematics I, Secondary Mathematics II, and Secondary Mathematics III.

(7)

(a) A student may opt out of Secondary Mathematics III if the student's parent submits a written request to the school.

(b) If a student's parent requests an opt out described in Subsection (6)(a), the student is required to complete a third math credit from the Board-approved mathematics list.

(8) A 7th or 8th grade student may earn credit for a mathematics foundation course before 9th grade, consistent with the student's Plan for College and Career Readiness if:

(a) the student is identified as gifted in mathematics in accordance with the procedures outlined in Rule R277-707;

(b) the student is enrolled at a middle school or junior high school and a high school;

(c) the student qualifies for promotion one or two grade levels above the student's age group and is placed in 9th grade; or

(d) the student takes the Board competency test in the summer prior to 9th grade and earns high school graduation credit for the course.

(9) A student who successfully completes a mathematics foundation course before 9th grade is required to earn 3.0 units of additional mathematics credit by:

(a) taking the other mathematics foundation courses described in Subsection (5); and

(b) an additional course from the Board-approved mathematics list consistent with:

(i) the student's Plan for College and Career Readiness; and

(ii) the following criteria:

(A) courses are within the field/discipline of mathematics with a significant portion of instruction aligned to mathematics content, principles, knowledge, and skills;

(B) courses provide instruction that lead to student understanding of the nature and disposition of mathematics;

(C) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of mathematics;

(D) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and

(E) courses include the Standards for Mathematical Practice as listed in the Utah secondary mathematics core.

(10) A student who successfully completes a Calculus course with a "C" grade or higher has completed mathematics graduation requirements, regardless of the number of mathematics credits earned.

(11) Science (3.0 units of credit):

(a) shall be met minimally through successful completion of 2.0 units of credit from two of the following five science foundation areas:

(i) Earth Science (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Earth Science;

(B) Advanced Placement Environmental Science; or

(C) International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems;

(ii) Biological Science (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Biology;

(B) Biology: Agricultural Science and Technology;

(C) Advanced Placement Biology;

(D) International Baccalaureate Biology; or

(E) Biology with Lab Concurrent Enrollment;

(iii) Chemistry (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Chemistry;

(B) Advanced Placement Chemistry;

(C) International Baccalaureate Chemistry; or

(D) Chemistry with Lab Concurrent Enrollment;

(iv) Physics (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Physics;

(B) Advanced Placement Physics (1, 2, C: Electricity and Magnetism, or C: Mechanics);

(C) International Baccalaureate Physics; or

(D) Physics with Lab Concurrent Enrollment; or

(v) Computer Science (1.0 units of credit):

(A) Advanced Placement Computer Science;

(B) Computer Science Principles; or

(C) Computer Programming 2; and

(b) one additional unit of credit from:

(i) the foundation courses described in Subsection(10)(a); or

(ii) the applied or advanced science list:

(A) determined by the LEA board; and

(B) approved by the Board using the following criteria and consistent with the student's Plan for College and Career Readiness:

(i) courses are within the field/discipline of science with a significant portion of instruction aligned to science content, principles, knowledge, and skills;

(ii) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of science;

(iii) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of science;

(iv) courses provide developmentally appropriate content;

(v) courses include the areas of physical, natural, or applied sciences; and

(vi) courses develop students' skills in scientific inquiry.

(12) Social Studies (3.0 units of credit) shall be met minimally through successful completion of:

(a) 2.5 units of credit from the following courses:

(i) World Geography (0.5 units of credit);

(ii) World History (0.5 units of credit);

(iii) U.S. History (1.0 units of credit); and

(iv) U.S. Government and Citizenship (0.5 units of credit);

(b) Social Studies (0.5 units of credit per LEA discretion); and

(c) a basic civics test or alternate assessment described in R277-700-8.

(13) The Arts (1.5 units of credit from any of the following performance areas):

(a) Visual Arts;

(b) Music;

(c) Dance;

(d) Theatre; or

(e) Media Arts.

(14) Health Education (0.5 units of credit).

(15)

(a) Physical Education (1.5 units of credit from each of the following):

(i) Participation Skills (0.5 units of credit);

(ii) Fitness for Life (0.5 units of credit); and

(iii) Individualized Lifetime Activities (0.5 units of credit);

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (15)(a), a student may earn 0.5 units of credit per sport for team sport/athletic participation up to a maximum of 1.0 units of credit with LEA approval to replace participation skills and individualized lifetime activities requirements.

(16) Career and Technical Education (1.0 units of credit from any of the following):

(a) Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources;

(b) Architecture and Construction;

(c) Arts, Audio/Visual Technology and Communications;

(d) Business, Finance and Marketing;

(e) Computer Science and Information Technology;

(f) Education and Training;

(g) Engineering and Technology;

(h) Health Science;

(i) Hospitality and Tourism;

(j) Human Services;

(k) Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security;

(l) Manufacturing; or

(m) Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics.

(17) Digital Studies (0.5 units of credit).

(18) Library Media Skills (integrated into the subject areas).

(19) General Financial Literacy (0.5 units of credit).

(20) Electives (5.5 units of credit).

(21) An LEA shall use Board-approved summative assessments to assess student mastery of the following subjects:

(a) language arts through grade 11;

(b) mathematics as defined in Subsection (6); and

(c) science as defined in Subsection (11).

(22) An LEA board may require a student to earn credits for graduation that exceed the minimum Board requirements described in this rule.

(23) An LEA board may establish and offer additional elective course offerings at the discretion of the LEA board.

(24)

(a) An LEA may modify a student's graduation requirements to meet the unique educational needs of a student if:

(i) the student has a disability; and

(ii) the modifications to the student's graduation requirements are made through the student's individual IEP.

(b) An LEA shall document the nature and extent of a modification, substitution, or exemption made to a student's graduation requirements described in Subsection (22)(a) in the student's IEP.

(25) The Superintendent shall provide a list of approved courses meeting the requirements of this rule.

(26) An LEA may modify graduation requirements for an individual student to achieve an appropriate route to student success if the modification:

(a) is consistent with:

(i) the student's IEP; or

(ii) SEOP/Plan for College and Career Readiness;

(b) is maintained in the student's file;

(c) includes the parent's signature; and

(d) maintains the integrity and rigor expected for high school graduation, as determined by the Board.

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