No. 41191 (New Rule): Rule R277-717. High School Course Grading Requirements

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 41191
Filed: 01/17/2017 03:43:34 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this new rule is to establish requirements and procedures for awarding credit when a student repeats a course or takes a comparable course and earns a higher grade.

Summary of the rule or change:

This new rule provides definitions and procedures for course grade forgiveness.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 53A-1-401
• Art X, Sec 3

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This new rule provides procedures for course grade forgiveness, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

This new rule provides procedures for course grade forgiveness, which may result in additional staff time for an LEA or school to adjust a student's course grade and grade point average and to exclude a lower grade on the student's permanent record. It is anticipated that the additional tasks will be performed by existing staff and within existing budgets. There may also be increased costs to a school or parent to pay the cost of the student to repeat the course. Costs are speculative at this time and cannot be estimated.

small businesses:

This new rule provides procedures for course grade forgiveness, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to small businesses.

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

This new rule provides procedures for course grade forgiveness, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

This new rule provides procedures for course grade forgiveness, which likely will not result in any compliance costs for affected persons.

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

To the best of my knowledge, there should be no fiscal impact on businesses resulting from this new rule.

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 [e-mail]

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:

03/03/2017

This rule may become effective on:

03/10/2017

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Deputy Superintendent, Policy and Communication

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-717. High School Course Grading Requirements.

R277-717-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) This rule is authorized by:

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

(b) Section 53A-1-401, 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 establish requirements for awarding credit when a student repeats a course or takes a comparable course and earns a higher grade.

 

R277-717-2. Definitions.

(1) "Comparable course" means a course that fulfills the same graduation credit requirements as a course for which a student seeks to improve a grade.

(2) "Course" means a course that a student:

(a) is enrolled in; and

(b)(i) completes; or

(ii) withdraws from but still receives a grade.

(3) "Highest grade" means a grade that reflects the higher grade of:

(a) a course and a repeat of the course; or

(b) a course and a comparable course.

(4) "LEA" includes the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for purposes of this rule.

(5) "Recurring course" means a course that a student takes more than once to:

(a) further the student's understanding and skills in the course subject, such as journalism or band; or

(b) satisfy a different credit requirement that the course may fulfill, such as an art class that fulfills an elective requirement and an art requirement.

(6) "Student" means an individual enrolled in an LEA in grade 9, 10, 11, or 12.

 

R277-717-3. Course Grade Forgiveness.

(1)(a) A student may, to improve a course grade received by the student:

(i) repeat the course one or more times; or

(ii) enroll in and complete a comparable course.

(b) A grade for an additional unit of a recurring course does not change a student's original course grade for purposes of this section.

(2) If a student repeats a course, the student's LEA:

(a) shall adjust, if necessary, the student's course grade and grade point average to reflect the student's highest grade and exclude a lower grade;

(b) shall exclude from the student's permanent record the course grade that is not the highest grade; and

(c) may not otherwise indicate on the student's record that the student repeated the course.

(3)(a) If a student enrolls in a comparable course the student shall, at the time of enrolling in the comparable course, inform the student's LEA of the student's intent to enroll in the course for the purpose of improving a course grade.

(b) If a student enrolls in a comparable course, the student's LEA:

(i) shall confirm, at the time the student enrolls in the comparable course, that the comparable course fulfills the same credit requirements as the course that the student intends to replace with the comparable course grade;

(ii) shall, if necessary, on the student's record and in the grade point average reflect the highest grade between the course and the comparable course and exclude the lower grade;

(iii) shall exclude from the student's permanent record the course or comparable course that is not the highest grade upon the request of the student; and

(iv) may not otherwise indicate the course or comparable course for which the student did not receive the highest grade on the student's record.

 

KEY: students, grades, credits

Date of Enactment of Last Substantive Amendment: 2017

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-401

 

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