Utah Code § 53E-4-204 — Utah Code / Title 53E / Chapter 53E-4 / § 53E-4-204
§ 53E-4-204. Standards and graduation requirements.
Status: in_force

7/1/2026 (1) The state board shall establish rigorous core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements under Section 53E-3-501 for grades 9 through 12 that: (a) are consistent with state law and federal regulations; (b) use competency-based standards and assessments; (c) include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy test-out option; (d) include graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science that exceed: (i) 3.0 units in language arts including up to 0.5 units emphasizing verbal communication completed in a course or a school sponsored activity; (ii) 2.0 units in mathematics; and (iii) and 2.0 units in science; (e) include a graduation requirement in social studies that is equal to or exceeds 3.5 units, including: (i) at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship as described in Section 53E-4-205.2, consisting of two distinct semester courses that may not be duplicated to satisfy the requirement; and (ii) at least 1.0 unit in United States history, consisting of two distinct semester courses that may not be duplicated to satisfy the requirement; and (f) ensure up to 0.5 units of the 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship described in Subsection (1)(e)(i) may be earned by: (i) completing a course or a school sponsored activity emphasizing verbal communication provided that a significant portion of the course or activity is dedicated to civic education, including: (A) policy analysis; (B) governmental systems; and (C) civic engagement; or (ii) participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps described in 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2031. (2) The state board shall establish competency-based standards and assessments for elective courses. (3) The state board shall study requiring all LEAs to issue a high school diploma to students who receive: (a) an associate's degree with at least 60 credit hours from an accredited post-secondary institution; or (b) an industry certification with at least 500 hours of instruction from a business, trade association, or other industry group in accordance with Section 53E-3-501.7/1/2026 (1) The state board shall establish rigorous core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements under Section 53E-3-501 for grades 9 through 12 that: (a) are consistent with state law and federal regulations; (b) use competency-based standards and assessments; (c) include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy test-out option; (d) include graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science that exceed: (i) 3.0 units in language arts including up to 0.5 units emphasizing verbal communication completed in a course or a school sponsored activity; (ii) 2.0 units in mathematics; and (iii) and 2.0 units in science; (e) include a graduation requirement in social studies that is equal to or exceeds 3.5 units, including: (i) at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship as described in Section 53E-4-205.2, consisting of two distinct semester courses that may not be duplicated to satisfy the requirement; and (ii) at least 1.0 unit in United States history, consisting of two distinct semester courses that may not be duplicated to satisfy the requirement; and (f) ensure up to 0.5 units of the 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship described in Subsection (1)(e)(i) may be earned by: (i) completing a course or a school sponsored activity emphasizing verbal communication provided that a significant portion of the course or activity is dedicated to civic education, including: (A) policy analysis; (B) governmental systems; and (C) civic engagement; or (ii) participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps described in 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2031. (2) The state board shall establish competency-based standards and assessments for elective courses. (3) The state board shall study requiring all LEAs to issue a high school diploma to students who receive: (a) an associate's degree with at least 60 credit hours from an accredited post-secondary institution; or (b) an industry certification with at least 500 hours of instruction from a business, trade association, or other industry group in accordance with Section 53E-3-501.