R277-733-8. Program, Curriculum, Outcomes and Student Mastery

  (1) The Utah Adult Education Program shall offer courses consistent with the Elementary and Secondary General Core under R277-700.

  (2) The core standards may be modified or adjusted to meet the individual needs of an adult education student.

  (3) An LEA shall develop written course descriptions for AHSC required and elective courses for all adult education program classes taught, consistent with the core standards and Utah adult education college and career readiness standards, as provided by the Superintendent.

  (4) The Superintendent, in cooperation with eligible providers, shall develop written course descriptions for HSE exam preparation, ELL and ABE courses based on Utah's core standards, modified for adult learners.

  (5) Course descriptions shall stress content mastery rather than completion of predetermined seat time in a classroom.

  (6) Adult high school completion education shall include the following prerequisite courses:

  (a) ELL competency AEFLA levels one through six; or

  (b) ABE competency AEFLA levels one through four.

  (7) AHSC courses for students seeking an Adult Education Secondary Diploma shall meet federal AEFLA AHSC Levels I and II competency requirements with a minimum completion of 24 credits consistent with cores standards and adult education college and career readiness standards under the direction of a Utah licensed teacher as provided in the Utah Adult Education Policies and Procedures Guide.

  (8) The Superintendent and eligible providers shall disseminate clear information regarding revised adult education graduation requirements.

  (9) An adult education student receiving education services in a state prison or jail education program may graduate with an Adult Education Secondary Diploma upon completion of the state required 24.0 units of credit required under R277-700 and:

  (a) completed credits;

  (b) demonstrated course competency; or

  (c) a Utah High School Completion Diploma with a successful passing score on an HSE exam consistent with the student's adult education CCRP.

  (10) An eligible provider may modify Adult Education Secondary Diploma graduation requirements to meet unique educational needs of an adult student with:

  (a) documented disabilities through an IEP from age 16 until the student's 22nd birthday; or

  (b) an adult education CCRP.

  (11) A student's IEP or adult education CCRP shall document the nature and extent of modifications, substitutions, or exemptions made to accommodate the student's disabilities.

  (12) Modified graduation requirements for an individual student shall:

  (a) be consistent with the student's IEP or CCRP;

  (b) be maintained in the student's adult education files; and

  (c) maintain the integrity and rigor expected for AHSC graduation.

  (13) An LEA shall establish policies allowing or disallowing adult education student participation in graduation activities or ceremonies.

  (14) An adult education student may only receive an Adult Education Secondary Diploma earned through a Utah adult education program accredited through a Board-approved organization.

  (15) An adult education program shall accept credits and grades awarded to a student without alteration from other accredited state-recognized adult education programs or eligible providers approved by the Superintendent.

  (16) An adult education program may establish reasonable timelines and may require adequate and timely documentation of authenticity for credits and grades submitted from other eligible providers.

  (17) An LEA adult education program is the final decision-making authority for the awarding of credit and grades from non-accredited sources.

  (18) An adult education program shall provide instruction that allows a student to transition between sites in a seamless manner.

  (19) An adult education program shall offer an adult education student seeking a Utah High School Completion Diploma a course of academic instruction designed to prepare the student to take an HSE exam.

  (20) The Superintendent shall award a Utah High School Completion Diploma if a student passes an HSE exam.

  (21) Notwithstanding receipt of the Utah High School Completion Diploma a student may still be entitled to a free appropriate public education under IDEA requirements.

  (22) Following completion of requirements for a Utah Adult Education Secondary Diploma or a Utah High School Completion Diploma, an adult education student may only continue in an adult education program to improve their basic literacy skills if:

  (a) the student's academic skills are less than 9.0 grade level in an academic area of reading, math or English;

  (b) the student lacks sufficient mastery of basic educational skills to enable the student to function effectively in society; and

  (c) the focus of the continued instruction is limited solely to literacy in reading, math or English for a maximum of 120 instructional contact hours.