DAR File No. 42028

Education, Administration

Rule R277-703

Centennial Scholarship for Early Graduation

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 42028
Filed: 08/15/2017 08:51:40 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Rule R277-703 is amended due to the passage S.B. 64, Student Scholarship Amendments, from the 2017 General Session. Rule R277-703 is also amended to provide technical and conforming changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments to Rule R277-703 provide procedures and deadlines for students to seek deferrals of scholarships and provide a five-year deadline for students to use the centennial scholarship. Technical and conforming changes are also provided in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Art X Sec 3
• Section 53A-1-402
• Section 53A -1-401
• Section 53A-15-102

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The amendments to Rule R277-703 will likely not result in a cost or savings to the state budget. The amendments to this rule provide for a student to request deferral of a centennial scholarship.

local governments:

The amendments to Rule R277-703 will likely not result in a cost or savings to local government. The amendments to this rule provide for a student to request deferral of a centennial scholarship.

small businesses:

The amendments to Rule R277-703 will likely not result in a cost or savings to small businesses. The amendments to this rule provide for a student to request deferral of a centennial scholarship, which does not impact businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

The amendments to Rule R277-703 will likely not result in a cost or savings to the persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. The Legislature is expected to adjust program funding in future years for anticipated increases in the number of participating students.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The amendments to Rule R277-703 will likely not result in any compliance costs for affected persons. The amendments to this rule provide for a student to request deferral of a centennial scholarship.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

After conducting a thorough analysis, it was determined that the amendments to this rule will not result in a fiscal impact to businesses.

Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at angie.stallings@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

10/02/2017

This rule may become effective on:

10/09/2017

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Deputy Superintendent, Policy and Communication

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-703. Centennial Scholarship for Early Graduation.

R277-703-[2]1 . Authority and Purpose.

[A.](1) This rule is authorized by:

(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 , which [places]vests general control and supervision [of the]over public [school system under]education in the Board[,];

(b) Section 53A - 15 - 102, which requires the Board to make payments to a public school student who graduates early;

(c) Section 53A-1-402[(1)], which authorizes the Board to make rules regarding competency levels, graduation requirements, curriculum, and instruction requirements ; and

(d) Section 53A-1-401[(3)], which [authorizes]allows the Board to [adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities]make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law.

[B.](2) This rule:

(a) designates the [E]early [G]graduation [C]centennial [S]scholarship [C]certificate for use by public schools[,];

(b) allows for graduation to be flexible and appropriate to meet individual students' needs[,]; and

(c) outlines the early graduation procedure.[If a student graduates any time following the eleventh grade year and enters a Utah post - secondary institution, the LEA shall receive a reimbursement designated for the public high school from which the student graduated early. The post - secondary institution shall receive an Early Graduation Centennial Scholarship Certificate signed by the high school principal/director entitling the early graduate to a partial tuition scholarship following the date of graduation according to the schedule established by this rule.]

 

R277-703-[1]2. Definitions.

[A. "ATC" means Applied Technology Center.]

[B. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.]

[C.](1) "Centennial [S]scholarship" or "scholarship" means the amount awarded to an early graduating student [designated ]in accordance with Section 53A-15-102.

[D.](2) "LEA" [means a local education agency, including local school boards/public school districts, charter schools, and]includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

[E. "SEOP" means student education/occupational plan.]

(3) "UCAT" or "technical college" means the Utah System of Technical Colleges listed in Section 53B - 2a - 105.

 

R277-703-3. Curriculum Options for Accelerating a Secondary School Student's Education Program.

(1) If a student graduates any time before the conclusion of grade 11, or prior to the conclusion of grade 12, the student may receive a reimbursement towards enrollment in a Utah post-secondary institution as described in Section 53A-15-102 and this R277-703.

(2) A post-secondary institution selected by a student who receives a centennial scholarship shall receive a centennial scholarship certificate signed by the high school principal or charter school director entitling the early graduate to a partial tuition scholarship following the date of graduation according to the schedule established by this rule.

[A.](3) A student seeking a centennial scholarship shall complete the courses of study and credit mandated by the Board and by the student's local school board [of education/local]or charter school governing board.

[B.](4) Options for earning additional credit may include[but are not limited to]:

([1]a) [C]courses:

([a]i) [H]high school summer school;

([b]ii) [H]high school or [ATC]UCAT early morning or after school classes;

([c]iii) [C]courses completed at the student's own rate based on performance as approved by [(]the local school board[of education/local] or charter school governing board[is responsible for assessment of mastery, R277-700-6)];

([d]iv) [C]college courses numbered [101]1000 and above from fully accredited institutions [(concurrent enrollment, extension division, or continuing education classes)];

([e]v) LEA -approved high school or college level correspondence courses; or

([f]vi) [E]equivalency ratio of higher education hours to high school credits: five (5) quarter or three (3) semester hours equal one (1) unit of high school credit[.];

([2]b) [D]demonstrated proficiency by assessment [(]in an amount of credit [to be]as determined by the local school board [of education/local]or charter school governing board[, R277 - 700 - 6)]:

([a]i) [A]advanced [P]placement [E]examination, as approved by the local school board [of education/local] or charter school governing board;

([b]ii) ACT or SAT scores that meet or exceed a level set by the local school board [of education/local] or charter school governing board;

([c]iii) Utah state or LEA secondary end-of-course tests;

([d]iv) [D]demonstrated proficiency in a subject, as assessed by the [local board of education/local charter board]LEA; or

([e]v) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests[.];

([3]c) [A]approved work experience, as assessed by the [local board of education/local charter board]LEA.

([4]d) [D]demonstrated mastery in an experimental program that has received prior approval from the Board[(local board of education/local charter board seeks approval from the Board)];

([5]e) [I]increased credit for courses that are combined into a time frame that ordinarily accommodates a lesser number of classes, as approved by the [local board of education/local charter board]LEA;

([6]f) [I]independent study[: a student may be allowed] credit for an independent research project or independent reading relevant to a course of study; or

([7]g) [C]credit for experience gained during travel relevant to a specific course if approved in advance by the LEA.[Prior approval shall be obtained from and credit awarded by the local board of education/local charter board.]

 

R277-703-4. Early Graduation Student Education Plan.

[A.](1) In consultation with the student's parent or guardian and school advisor, [each]a student seeking a centennial scholarship shall indicate to the secondary principal[/] or charter school director the student's intent to complete early graduation at the beginning of the ninth grade year or as soon thereafter as the intent is known.

[B.](2) To be eligible for early graduation, a student shall have a current [SEOP]plan for college and career readiness on file at the student's high school [under provisions of R277-700-8]as described in Subsection R277-700-6(24).

 

R277-703-5. Local Education Requirements.

[A.](1) Requirements relating to semesters in membership are inapplicable to students who have been approved under Section R277-703-4 for graduation following the eleventh grade year.

[B.](2) Local academic and citizenship credit requirements for graduation which exceed Board requirements shall include provisions that permit students to graduate early.

 

R277-703-6. Funding Provisions.

[A.](1) An LEA shall receive a payment designated for each high school from which students graduated before the end of the twelfth grade year.

[B.](2) [Payment provisions:

(1) ]An LEA[s] shall receive payment for one-half of the designated [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount for each student reported as having graduated at the conclusion of the eleventh grade year on the S-3 report in the fiscal year following the student's graduation.

([2]3) (a) An LEA[s] shall receive payment based on a percentage of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount for each student reported as graduating during the twelfth grade year.

(b) [These students]A student described in Subsection (3)(a) shall also be listed on the S-3 report and payment shall be made to the LEA in the fiscal year following the students' graduation.

(c) An LEA[s] shall receive payment for schools operating on the quarter or trimester system for each early graduating student according to the following schedule:

([a]i) [E]end of first quarter of 12th grade year: 75 percent of one-half of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount;

([b]ii) [E]end of second quarter of 12th grade year: 50 percent of one-half of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount;

([c]iii) [E]end of third quarter of 12th grade year: 25 percent of one-half of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount;

([d]iv) [E]end of first trimester of 12th grade year: 67 percent of one-half of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount; or

([e]v) [E]end of second trimester of 12th grade year: 33 percent of one-half of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount.

[C.](4) A student who graduates from high school at the conclusion of the eleventh grade year or during the twelfth grade year shall be entitled to a partial tuition scholarship in the form of the [E]early [G]graduation [C]centennial [S]scholarship [C]certificate to be used at a Utah public college, university, community college, [applied technology center]technical college, or any other institution in Utah accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission that offers post-secondary courses.

(5) The post-secondary institution selected by a student who receives a centennial scholarship shall complete the [E]early [G]graduation [C]centennial [S]scholarship [C]certificate and submit it to the [Utah State Office of Education]Superintendent.

(6) Upon receipt of the [E]early [G]graduation [C]centennial [S]scholarship [C]certificate, the [Utah State Office of Education]Suprintendent shall verify the information, and reimburse the institution an amount set forth in the following schedule in the fiscal year during which the student enrolls in a post-secondary institution.

(7) Except as provided in Section R277-703-7, [T]to be eligible for the scholarship, the student must enroll in an eligible post-secondary institution within one calendar year of graduation.

([1]8) (a) [The]A student who graduates at the end of the eleventh grade year shall receive a full [C]centennial [S]scholarship.

([2]b) [The]A student who graduates at the end of the first quarter of the twelfth grade year shall receive 75 percent of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount.

([3]c) [The]A student who graduates at the end of the second quarter of the twelfth grade year shall receive 50 percent of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount.

([4]d) [The]A student who graduates at the end of the third quarter of the twelfth grade year shall receive 25 percent of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount.

([5]e) [The]A student who graduates at the end of the first trimester of the twelfth grade year shall receive 67 percent of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount.

([6]f) [The]A student who graduates at the end of the second trimester of the twelfth grade year shall receive 33 percent of the [C]centennial [S]scholarship amount.

 

R277-703-7. Student Deferrals.

(1) Except as provided in Subsection (5) and as allowed in Subsection 53A-15-102(4), a student who is eligible for a centennial scholarship, as described in Subsection 53A-15-102(3) and this R277-703, may make a request to the Board that the Board defer consideration of the student for the scholarship for a set period of time up to five years.

(2) The Superintendent shall:

(a) create an application, for the Board's approval, for a student seeking a deferral to request the deferral; and

(b) make the application described in Subsection (2)(a) available online.

(3) A student seeking a deferral described in Subsection (1) shall file a request for deferral with the Superintendent on or before:

(a) the second Monday in February for a student who graduated on or before December 31 of a school year; and

(b) the second Monday in July for a student who graduated on or before June 15 of a school year.

(4)(a) If a student's request for a deferral is denied by the Superintendent, the student may request an appeal of the Superintendent's decision.

(b) The Law and Licensing Committee shall review a student's appeal within 60 days of receipt of the appeal.

(c) The Superintendent shall inform a student requesting appeal of the Law and Licensing Committee's decision.

(5) A student's centennial scholarship expires five years from the date the eligible student graduated.

 

KEY: graduation requirements, curricula. scholarships, early graduation

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [October 9, 2012]2017

Notice of Continuation: August 14, 2017

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-402(1); 53A-1-401[(3)]