Education Requirements - Middle School
Utah Administrative Code Rules
Middle School Education Requirements
A. The Board shall establish a Core Curriculum for middle school education.
B. Students in grades 7-8 shall earn a minimum of 12 units of credit to be properly prepared for instruction in grades 9-12.
C. Local boards may require additional units of credit.
D. Grades 7-8 Core Curriculum requirements and units of credit:
- General Core (10.5 units of credit):
- a. Language Arts (2.0 units of credit);
- b. Mathematics (2.0 units of credit);
- c. Science (2.0 units of credit);
- d. Social Studies (1.5 units of credit);
- e. The Arts (1.0 units of credit):
- i. Visual Arts;
- ii. Music;
- iii. Dance;
- iv. Theatre.
- f. Physical Education (1.0 units of credit);
- g. Health Education (0.5 units of credit);
- h. Career and Technical Education, Life, and Careers (1.0 units of credit);
- i. Educational Technology (credit optional);
- j. Library Media (integrated into subject areas).
E. Board-approved Core Curriculum Criterion-Referenced Test (CRTs) shall be used to assess student mastery of the following:
- Language arts;
- Mathematics; and
- Science in grades 7 and 8.
F. Norm-referenced tests shall be given to all middle school students in grade 8.
Education Requirements - High School
Current Graduation Courses
Meets the criteria for graduation requirements.
A. The Board shall establish Core Standards and a Core Curriculum for students in grades 9-12.
B. Students in grades 9-12 shall earn a minimum of 24 units of credit through course completion or through competency assessment consistent with R277-705 to graduate.
C. Grades 9-12 Core Curriculum credits from courses approved by the Board, as specified:
- English/Language Arts (4 Credits)
- Mathematics (3 Credits):
- Successful completion of Secondary Mathematics I, II, and III or higher.
- Parents may request that students replace Secondary III with a course from the Applied or Advanced approved course list.
- Students who successfully complete Calculus have met graduation requirements regardless of the number of credits they have taken.
- Science (3 Credits):
- 2 Credits (from the four science foundation areas; Earth Systems, Biological Science, Chemistry, AP Computer Science, or Physics).
- 1 Credit (from the foundation courses or the applied or advanced science core list).
- Social Studies (3 Credits):
- 1 Credit (U.S. History)
- 0.5 Credit (Geography)
- 0.5 Credit (Civilization)
- 0.5 Credit (U.S. Government and Citizenship)
- 0.5 Credit (LEA Discretion - 0.5 General Financial Literacy)
- Directed Coursework (3 Credits):
- 1.5 Credit (Fine Arts)
- 1 Credit (CTE)
- 0.5 Credit (Computer Technology)
- Physical Education Health (2 Credits):
- 0.5 Credit (Health)
- 0.5 Credit (Participation Skills)
- 0.5 Credit (Fitness for Life)
- 0.5 Credit (Individualized Lifetime Activities)
- Optional: 0.5 Credit Maximum (Team Sport/Athletic Participation*)
* Can be used in place of Participation Skills or Individualized Lifetime Activities only.
- Core credits required (18.0 credits)
- Required Electives (8.0 Credits)
- Total Credit Hours (26)
D. Board-approved Core Curriculum Criterion-Referenced Test (CRTs) shall be used to assess student mastery of the following subjects:
- language arts through grade 11;
- mathematics as defined under R277-700-6C(2); and
- science as defined under R277-700-6C(3).
E. Local Education Agency (LEA) boards may require students to earn credits for graduation that exceed minimum Board requirements.
F. Additional elective course offerings may be established and offered at the discretion of an LEA board.
G. Students with disabilities served by special education programs may have changes made to graduation requirements through the individuals Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to meet unique educational needs. A student's IEP shall document the nature and extent of modifications and substitutions or exemptions made to accommodate a student with disabilities.
H. The Board and Utah State Office of Education (USOE) may review LEA boards' lists of approved courses for compliance with this rule.
I. Graduation requirements may be modified for individual students to achieve an appropriate route to student success when such modifications:
- are consistent with the student's IEP or Student Education Occupation Plan (SEOP) or both;
- are maintained in the student's file and include the parent's/guardian's signature; and
- maintain the integrity and rigor expected for high school graduation, as determined by the Board.
- General Core (10.5 units of credit):