R277-722. Procedures for the Focused Graduation Pathway

R277.  Education, Administration.

R277-722.  Procedures for the Focused Graduation Pathway.

R277-722-1.  Authority, Purpose, and Oversight Category.

          (1)  This rule is authorized by:

          (a)  Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board;

          (b)  Subsection 53E-3-501(1)(b), which directs the Board to adopt rules regarding access to programs, competency levels, and graduation requirements; and

          (c)  Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah constitution and state law.

          (2)  The purpose of this rule is to describe the standards and procedures required for an individual to utilize the Focused Graduation Pathway.

          (3)  This Rule R277-722 is categorized as Category 2 as described in Rule R277-111.

R277-722-2.  Definitions.

          (1)  "FGP student" means an individual 16 to 19 years of age who meets the requirements of this rule, attends a participating school, and has consented to participate in the Focused Graduation Pathway (FGP).

          (2)  "General Education Development" high school equivalency exam or "GED exam" means a high school equivalency exam that is a standardized test that measures proficiency in one of four subject areas: Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies, and is administered by authorized testing centers.

          (3)  "GED Alerts" means an official notification issued by the Utah State Board of Education to inform high school students, educators, and the public about the availability and details of the General Education Development (GED) high school equivalency exam.

          (4)  "Participating school" means a school that has proposed an FGP, obtained LEA board approval, and meets all other requirements as outlined in this rule.

R277-722-3.  Focused Graduation Program Requirements.

          (1)  Before enrolling students in the FGP, a participating school shall

          (a)  develop policies and procedures surrounding the FGP for their school, in accordance with existing LEA policy

          (b)  obtain the LEA board approval prior to participating in the FGP

          (i)  outlining how FGP will be implemented

          (c)  designate an FGP Coordinator to oversee the program

          (d)  submit the approved application in Subsection (1)(b) to the Superintendent

          (2)  A participating school may not withdraw a student participating in the FGP from k-12 before the student takes any of the four subject GED tests.

          (3)  A participating school shall:

          (a)  maintain a student-teacher ratio not to exceed the average ratio of the participating school for all GED prep courses;

          (b)  provide necessary support for a student with disabilities, as required by Rule R277-705;

          (c)  provide subject area experts to students when preparing for each GED subject test;

          (d)  coordinate the clearance of GED alerts for a FGP student with the Superintendent; and

          (e)  submit annual report to the Superintendent on FGP enrollment, completion rates, and other relevant data as determined by the Superintendent.

R277-722-4.  Student Eligibility for Focused Graduation Pathway.

          (1)  A candidate for the focused graduation pathway shall:

          (a)  be at least 16 years of age;

          (b)  be a junior or senior enrolled in high school;

          (c)  be significantly behind in high school credits earned with:

          (i)  at least 6 credits behind if a junior; or

          (ii)  at least 3 credits behind if a senior;

          (d)  demonstrate 9th grade reading level or higher on an assessment chosen by the LEA;

          (e)  remain enrolled in a Utah k-12 school throughout the entirety of the pathway;

          (2)  A FGP candidate shall participate in a formal meeting with applicable school staff where:

          (a)  the policies and procedures surrounding the FGP are explained and

          (b)(i)  parental consent to participate in the FPG is provided; or

          (ii)  student consent if the student is a verified unaccompanied minor;

          (4)  Consent to participate shall be voluntarily given.

R277-722-5.  Testing and Credit.

          (1)  A FGP student shall complete a GED exam:

          (a)  at approved testing centers; or

          (b)  through an online proctored test, in accordance with GED policies and procedures.

          (2)  A participating school may award core credit to an FGP student for passing GED exams, as determined by school and LEA policy up to;

          (a)  4.0 credits for language arts for passing Reasoning through Language Arts;

          (b)  3.0 credits for social studies for passing Social Studies;

          (c)  3.0 credits for mathematics for passing Mathematical Reasoning; and

          (d)  3.0 credits for science for passing Science.

          (3)  Awarded credit shall be recorded on a transcript as pass/fail instead of a letter grade.

          (4)  An FGP student shall complete all remaining graduation requirements as required by the LEA to be eligible for graduation.

R277-722-6.  Diploma and Official Transcripts.

          (1)  Upon successful completion of the FGP and all LEA graduation requirements, an FGP student shall:

          (a)  be awarded a traditional high school diploma; and

          (b)  be eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies.

          (2)  An FGP student shall be eligible for the Seal of Biliteracy if:

          (a)  the student has completed the GED exam in English; and

          (b)  has fulfilled all requirements as outlined in Rule R277-499.

R277-722-7.  Superintendent Oversight and Evaluation.

          (1)  The Superintendent shall designate a specialist to:

          (a)  oversee the FGP;

          (b)  provide technical assistance; and

          (c)  monitor program implementation and outcomes.

          (2)  The Superintendent may withdraw approval for a school to participate in the FGP for noncompliance with board rule.

KEY:  focused graduation pathway, educational testing, student competency

Date of Last Change:  February 7, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-501(1)(b); 53E-3-401

Status of Rule

Effective February 7, 2025

Five-year review February 7, 2030

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Oversight Framework

Category 2

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Related Utah Law

Public Education Statutes
None

Other Statutes
None

USBE Administrative Rules
R277-100, Definitions for USBE Rules

R277-702, Procedures for the High School Completion Diploma

R277-705, Secondary School Completion and Diplomas

Related Federal Law

None

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Resources

None

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Contact Information

Primary Contact:
Stephanie Patton
stephanie.patton@schools.utah.gov
Adult Education

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This page was last updated on 2/14/25.

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NOTE: The information on this webpage is provided as a service to users and the Utah State Board of Education is not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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