2023 Utah Code › Title 53E - Public Education System -- State Administration › Chapter 10 - Other Programs › Part 3 - Concurrent Enrollment › Section 309 - LAUNCH certificate -- TRANSFORM certificate -- Utah PRIME Program.

Effective 5/3/2023
53E-10-309.
LAUNCH certificate -- TRANSFORM certificate -- Utah PRIME Program.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Eligible institution" means:
(i) a degree-granting institution of higher education or a technical college within the state system of higher education, as identified in Section 53B-2-101(1); or
(ii) a private, nonprofit college or university in the state that is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
(b) "Industry certification" means a career and technical education certification awarded through validation of skills in cooperation with a business, trade association, or other industry group, in accordance with rules adopted by the state board under Section 53F-2-311.
(c) "Institutional certificate" means a career and technical education program completion certificate awarded by the state board, an institution of higher education, or a technical college.
(d) "LAUNCH certificate" means a certificate of completion awarded by the state board to an eligible student who meets the criteria described in this section.
(e) "Participating LEA" means an LEA that participates in the program.
(f) "Program" means the Utah PRIME program described in Subsection (5).
(g) "Plan for college and career readiness" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-2-304.
(h) "Qualifying student" means an eligible student who meets the criteria for a LAUNCH certificate or a TRANSFORM certificate as described in this section.
(i) "Technical college" means the same as that term is defined in 53B-1-101.5.
(j) "TRANSFORM certificate" means a certificate of completion established by the Utah Board of Higher Education in accordance with Section 53B-16-105.
(2) The state board shall award a LAUNCH certificate to an eligible student who:
(a) completes six concurrent enrollment credits;
(b) is awarded an industry certification or institutional certificate; and
(c) has on file a plan for college and career readiness.
(3) The state board shall award a TRANSFORM certificate to an eligible student who:
(a) completes:
(i) the requirements established by the Utah Board of Higher Education in accordance with Section 53B-16-105 and in coordination with the state board; and
(ii) completes five general education courses, each from a different general education category, as designated for concurrent enrollment by the Utah Board of Higher Education; or
(b) completes a career and technical education program that is at least 300 hours or 6 courses.
(c)
(i) Subject to appropriations by the Legislature, the Utah Board of Higher Education shall award to each student who earns a TRANSFORM certificate a $500 scholarship to be used at an eligible institution.
(ii) A student may earn the scholarship described in Subsection (3)(c)(i) regardless of whether the student receives an Opportunity Scholarship award described in Section 53B-8-201.
(4) The Utah Board of Higher Education shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to ensure that credits described in Subsections (2) and (3) earned by a qualifying student are transferable to institutions of higher education.
(5) In accordance with this section, and subject to appropriations by the Legislature for this purpose, the state board shall:
(a) administer the Utah PRIME program to expand access to concurrent enrollment courses and career and technical education certificates by expanding digital delivery models for distance learning programs or funding enrollment in participating LEAs; and
(b) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
(i) establish eligibility requirements for a participating LEA;
(ii) create an application process for LEAs to apply for the program; and
(iii) create a funding formula for participating LEAs.
(c) A participating LEA shall offer concurrent enrollment courses, including career and technical education courses, that meet the requirements for the LAUNCH certificate and TRANSFORM certificate.
Amended by Chapter 167, 2023 General Session