No. 40363 (Amendment): Rule R277-700. The Elementary and Secondary School General Core

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 40363
Filed: 04/28/2016 11:57:53 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Rule R277-700 is amended to update the Science General Core and Core Standards for students in grades 9-12, add required credit, and make terminology changes.

Summary of the rule or change:

Amendments to the rule provide three computer science courses as an option for core science credit for high school graduation; change wording in the body of the science requirements for clarification purposes; add a 0.5 required computer technology unit of credit to the middle school education requirements beginning no later than the 2018-2019 school year; and provide a change in terminology from Education Technology to Digital Studies.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 53A-1-402.6
• Art X, Sec 3
• Subsection 53A-1-402(1)
• Title 53A, Chapter 1, Part 12
• Section 53A-1-401
• Section 53A-13-109.5

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The amendments to Rule R277-700 provide more choices for core science credit, add required credit, and make terminology changes, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

The amendments to Rule R277-700 provide more choices for core science credit, add required credit, and make terminology changes, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to local government.

small businesses:

The amendments to Rule R277-700 provide more choices for core science credit, add required credit, and make terminology changes, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to small businesses.

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

The amendments to Rule R277-700 provide more choices for core science credit, add required credit, and make terminology changes, 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:

The amendments to Rule R277-700 provide more choices for core science credit, add required credit, and make terminology changes, 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 the amendments to this rule.

Sydnee Dickson, Interim State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division 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:

06/14/2016

This rule may become effective on:

06/21/2016

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Associate Superintendent, Policy and Communication

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-700. The Elementary and Secondary School General Core.

R277-700-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) This rule is authorized by:

(a) Article X, Section 3, of the Utah Constitution, which places general control and supervision of the public schools under the Board;

(b) Subsection 53A-1-402(1), which directs the Board to make rules regarding competency levels, graduation requirements, curriculum, and instruction requirements;

(c) Section 53A-1-402.6, which directs the Board to establish Core Standards in consultation with LEA boards and superintendents and directs LEA boards to adopt local curriculum and to design programs to help students master the General Core;

(d) Title 53A, Chapter 1, Part 12, Career and College Readiness Mathematics Competency, which directs the Board to establish college and career mathematics competency standards;

(e) Section 53A-13-109.5, which requires the Board to provide rules related to a basic civics test; and

(f) S[ubs]ection 53A-1-401[(3)], which 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.

(2) The purpose of this rule is to specify the minimum Core Standards and General Core requirements for the public schools, and to establish responsibility for mastery of Core Standard requirements.

 

R277-700-5. Middle School Education Requirements.

(1) The Core Standards and a General Core for middle school students are described in this section.

(2) A student in grades 7-8 is required to earn a minimum of 12 units of credit to be properly prepared for instruction in grades 9-12.

(3) In addition to the Board requirements described in this section, an LEA board may require a student to complete additional units of credit.

(4) The following are the Grades 7-8 General Core Requirements and 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 from the following):

(i) Visual Arts;

(ii) Music;

(iii) Dance; or

(iv) Theatre.

(f) Physical Education (1.0 units of credit);

(g) Health Education (0.5 units of credit);[ and]

(h) [Career and Technical Education, Life, and Careers]College and Career Awareness (1.0 units of credit)[.]; and

(i) beginning no later than the 2018-2019 school year, Digital Literacy (0.5 units of credit).

(5) An LEA shall use evidence-based best practices, technology, and other instructional media in middle school curricula to increase the relevance and quality of instruction.

(6) An LEA shall use Board-approved summative adaptive assessments to assess student mastery of the following:

(a) reading;

(b) language arts;

(c) mathematics; and

(d) science in grades 7 and 8.

 

R277-700-6. High School Requirements.

(1) The General Core and Core Standards for students in grades 9-12 are described in this section.

(2) A student in grades 9-12 is required to earn a minimum of 24 units of credit through course completion or through competency assessment consistent with R277-705 to graduate.

(3) The General Core credit requirements from courses approved by the Board are described in Subsections (4) through (18).

(4) Language Arts (4.0 units of credit from the following):

(a) Grade 9 level (1.0 unit of credit);

(b) Grade 10 level (1.0 unit of credit);

(c) Grade 11 level (1.0 unit of credit); and

(d) Grade 12 level (1.0 Unit of credit) consisting of applied or advanced language arts credit from the list of Board-approved courses using the following criteria and consistent with the student's SEOP/Plan for College and Career Readiness:

(i) courses are within the field/discipline of language arts with a significant portion of instruction aligned to language arts content, principles, knowledge, and skills;

(ii) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of language arts;

(iii) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of language arts;

(iv) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and

(v) courses develop skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and presentation.

(5) Mathematics (3.0 units of credit) shall be met minimally through successful completion of a combination of the foundation or foundation honors courses, Secondary Mathematics I, Secondary Mathematics II, and Secondary Mathematics III.

(6)(a) A student may opt out of Secondary Mathematics III if the student's parent submits a written request to the school.

(b) If a student's parent requests an opt out described in Subsection (6)(a), the student is required to complete a third math credit from the Board-approved mathematics list.

(7) A 7th or 8th grade student may earn credit for a mathematics foundation course before 9th grade, consistent with the student's SEOP/Plan for College and Career Readiness if:

(a) the student is identified as gifted in mathematics on at least two different USOE-approved assessments;

(b) the student is dual enrolled at the middle school/junior high school and the high school;

(c) the student qualifies for promotion one or two grade levels above the student's age group and is placed in 9th grade; or

(d) the student takes the USOE competency test in the summer prior to 9th grade and earns high school graduation credit for the course.

(8) A student who successfully completes a mathematics foundation course before 9th grade is required to earn 3.0 units of additional mathematics credit by:

(a) taking the other mathematics foundation courses described in Subsection (5); and

(b) an additional course from the Board-approved mathematics list consistent with:

(i) the student's SEOP/Plan for College and Career Readiness; and

(ii) the following criteria:

(A) courses are within the field/discipline of mathematics with a significant portion of instruction aligned to mathematics content, principles, knowledge, and skills;

(B) courses provide instruction that lead to student understanding of the nature and disposition of mathematics;

(C) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of mathematics;

(D) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and

(E) courses include the five process skills of mathematics: problem solving, reasoning, communication, connections, and representation.

(9) A student who successfully completes a Calculus course with a "C" grade or higher has completed mathematics graduation requirements, regardless of the number of mathematics credits earned.

(10) Science (3.0 units of credit):

(a) shall be met minimally through successful completion of [two courses]2.0 units of credit from [the following]two of the following five science foundation areas:

(i) Earth Science (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Earth Science;

(B) Advanced Placement Environmental Science; or

(C) International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems;

(ii) Biological Science (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Biology;

(B) Human Biology;

(C) Biology: Agricultural Science and Technology;

(D) Advanced Placement Biology;

(E) International Baccalaureate Biology; or

(F) Biology with Lab Concurrent Enrollment;

(iii) Chemistry (1.0 units of credit);

(A) Chemistry;

(B) Advanced Placement Chemistry;

(C) International Baccalaureate Chemistry; or

(D) Chemistry with Lab Concurrent Enrollment;

(iv) Physics (1.0 units of credit);[ or]

(A) Physics;

(B) Physics with Technology;

(C) Advanced Placement Physics (1, 2, C: Electricity and Magnetism, or C: Mechanics);

(D) International Baccalaureate Physics; or

(E) Physics with Lab Concurrent Enrollment; or

(v) [one of the following ]Computer Science[courses] ([.5 or ]1.0 units of credit):

(A) Advanced Placement Computer Science;

(B) Computer Science Principles; or

(C) Computer Programming II; and

(b) one additional unit of credit from:

(i) the foundation courses described in Subsection(10)(a); or

(ii) the applied or advanced science list :

(A) determined by the LEA board ; and

(B) approved by the Board using the following criteria and consistent with the student's SEOP/Plan for College and Career Readiness:

([A]I) courses are within the field/discipline of science with a significant portion of instruction aligned to science content, principles, knowledge, and skills;

([B]II) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of science;

([C]III) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of science;

([D]IV) courses provide developmentally appropriate content;

([E]V) courses include the areas of physical, natural, or applied sciences; and

([F]VI) courses develop students' skills in scientific inquiry.

(11) Social Studies (3.0 units of credit) shall be met minimally through successful completion of:

(a) 2.5 units of credit from the following courses:

(i) Geography for Life (0.5 units of credit);

(ii) World Civilizations (0.5 units of credit);

(iii) U.S. History (1.0 units of credit); and

(iv) U.S. Government and Citizenship (0.5 units of credit);

(b) Social Studies (0.5 units of credit per LEA discretion); and

(c) a basic civics test or alternate assessment described in R277-700-8.

(12) The Arts (1.5 units of credit from any of the following performance areas):

(a) Visual Arts;

(b) Music;

(c) Dance; or

(d) Theatre.

(13) Physical and Health Education (2.0 units of credit from any of the following):

(a) Health (0.5 units of credit);

(b) Participation Skills (0.5 units of credit);

(c) Fitness for Life (0.5 units of credit);

(d) Individualized Lifetime Activities (0.5 units of credit); or

(e) team sport/athletic participation (maximum of 0.5 units of credit with school approval).

(14) Career and Technical Education (1.0 units of credit from any of the following):

(a) Agriculture;

(b) Business;

(c) Family and Consumer Sciences;

(d) Health Science and Technology;

(e) Information Technology;

(f) Marketing;

(g) Technology and Engineering Education; or

(h) Trade and Technical Education.

(15) [Educational Technology]Digital Studies (0.5 units of credit )[from one of the following):

(a) Digital Literacy (0.5 units of credit from a Board-approved list of courses); or

(b) successful completion of a Board-approved competency examination (credit may be awarded at the discretion of the LEA).]

(16) Library Media Skills (integrated into the subject areas).

(17) General Financial Literacy (0.5 units of credit).

(18) Electives (5.5 units of credit).

(19) An LEA shall use Board-approved summative adaptive assessments to assess student mastery of the following subjects:

(a) reading;

(b) language arts through grade 11;

(c) mathematics as defined in Subsection (5); and

(d) science as defined in Subsection (10).

(20) An LEA board may require a student to earn credits for graduation that exceed the minimum Board requirements described in this rule.

(21) An LEA board may establish and offer additional elective course offerings at the discretion of the LEA board.

(22)(a) An LEA may modify a student's graduation requirements to meet the unique educational needs of a student if:

(i) the student has a disability; and

(ii) the modifications to the student's graduation requirements are made through the student's individual IEP.

(b) An LEA shall document the nature and extent of a modification, substitution, or exemption made to a student's graduation requirements described in Subsection (22)(a) in the student's IEP.

(23) The Board and Superintendent may review an LEA board's list of approved courses for compliance with this rule.

(24) An LEA may modify graduation requirements for an individual student to achieve an appropriate route to student success if the modification:

(a) is consistent with:

(i) the student's IEP; or

(ii) SEOP/Plan for College and Career Readiness;

(b) is maintained in the student's file;

(c) includes the parent's signature; and

(d) maintains the integrity and rigor expected for high school graduation, as determined by the Board.

 

KEY: graduation requirements, standards

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [August 26, 2015]2016

Notice of Continuation: July 1, 2015

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-402(1)(b); 53A-1-402.6; 53A-1-401[(3)]

 

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