53E-4-204. Standards and graduation requirements.
(1) The state board shall establish rigorous core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements under Sectionfor grades 9 through 12 that: 53E-3-501 are consistent with state law and federal regulations; use competency-based standards and assessments; include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy test-out option; include graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science that exceed: 3.0 units in language arts including up to 0.5 units emphasizing verbal communication completed in a course or a school sponsored activity; 2.0 units in mathematics; and and 2.0 units in science; include a graduation requirement in social studies that is equal to or exceeds 3.5 units, including: at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship as described in Section, consisting of two distinct semester courses that may not be duplicated to satisfy the requirement; and 53E-4-205.2 at least 1.0 unit in United States history, consisting of two distinct semester courses that may not be duplicated to satisfy the requirement; and ensure up to 0.5 units of the 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship described in Subsection (1)(e)(i) may be earned by: completing a course or a school sponsored activity emphasizing verbal communication provided that a significant portion of the course or activity is dedicated to civic education, including: policy analysis; governmental systems; and civic engagement; or participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps described in 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2031.
(2) The state board shall establish competency-based standards and assessments for elective courses.
(3) The state board shall study requiring all LEAs to issue a high school diploma to students who receive: an associate's degree with at least 60 credit hours from an accredited post-secondary institution; or an industry certification with at least 500 hours of instruction from a business, trade association, or other industry group in accordance with Section. 53E-3-501