Utah
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 6 and 18. (§ 53A-11-101(1)(d))
• Required Days of Instruction: "same length of time as minors are required by law to be taught in the district schools." (§ 53A-11-102(2))
• Required Subjects: "branches prescribed by law," (the state core curriculum), which includes: language arts, math, science, social studies, arts, health, and computer literacy. (Utah Admin. Code R277-700)
• Teacher Qualifications: None.
• Standardized Tests: Not required by statute.
• A child "shall be excused from attendance" at the public school if the child's parent annually files a signed affidavit with the minor's school district.
1. The parent must file an affidavit for each minor taught at home each year. The affidavit must contain a statement that the minor will be instructed in the subjects that the State Board of Education requires in public schools (the required subjects listed above) and that the minor will be instructed for the same length of time as minors are required by law to receive instruction in public schools.
(53A-11-102(2)(a))
2. The parent of a minor who attends a valid homeschool is solely responsible for:
a. the selection of instructional materials and textbooks,
b. the time, place, and method of instruction, and
c. the evaluation of the home school instruction. (53A-11-102(2)(c))
3. A local school board may not:
a. require a parent of a minor who attends a home school to maintain educational records,
b. require credentials for individuals providing home school instruction,
c. inspect home school facilities, or (iv) require standardized or other testing of home school students. (53A-11-102(2)(d))
• Alternative Statutes Allowing for Home Schools: Groups of home schoolers have established themselves as a "regularly established private school" under § 53A-11-101. According to the Department of Education, it has no jurisdiction over private schools. The only requirement that may apply is obtaining a business license.
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Utah State High School Graduation Requirements
- English units: 3
- Eff. Class of 2011: 4. 1 unit each 9th grade, 10th grade and 11th grade language arts, plus unit "applied or advanced language arts"
- Math units: 2, incl. Algebra I and geometry. High school math credit may not be earned in courses below Elementary Algebra and Applied Mathematics I.
- Eff. Class of 2011: 3. Must include Elementary Algebra or Applied Mathematics I and geometry or Applied Mathematics II.
- Social studies units: 2.5. 1 unit U.S. history and .5 unit each of Geography for Life, World Civilizations and U.S. Government and Citizenship.
- Science units: 2
- Eff. Class of 2011: 3
- Notes: Pre- and eff. Class of 2011: Two units must be chosen from the four science areas: earth systems science, biological science, chemistry and physics. Up to one unit may be earned in any of the four disciplines.
- P.E./Health units: 2. .5 unit each of the following: health, Participation Skills, Fitness for Life and either Individualized Lifetime Activities or team sport/athletic participation (maximum of .5 unit credit with school approval).
- Arts: 1.5
- Foreign language: 0
- Electives units: 0
- Other units: 2
- Notes:Pre- and eff. Class of 2011: Must include 1 unit applied technology education ("Career and Technical Education"
- eff. Class of 2011) chosen from: (a) Agriculture; (b) Business; (c) Family and Consumer Sciences; (d) Health Science and Technology; (e) Information Technology; (f) Marketing; (g) Technology Education (Technology and Engineering Education
- eff. Class of 2011); (h) Trade and Technical Education and (2) .5 unit of "Computer Technology" or "successful completion of state-approved competency examination (credit may be awarded at the discretion of the school or school district)" and (3) .5 unit of "General Financial Literacy."
- Notes:Pre- and eff. Class of 2011: Must include 1 unit applied technology education ("Career and Technical Education"
* Eff. Class of 2011: 24. 18 state-determined units and 6 district-determined units.
Other diploma options: State does not offer differentiated diploma pathways. State has policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.
Technical notes: Library media skills must be integrated into the subject areas. Effective with the Class of 2008, the state board "establishes minimum course description standards and objectives for each course in the required general core, which is commonly referred to as the Core Curriculum." Districts and the department of education will collaborate to develop course descriptions for required and elective courses, which must include "mastery criteria for the courses, and shall stress mastery of the course material and Core objectives and standards rather than completion of predetermined time allotments for courses."
UTAH ADMIN. CODE R277-700, R277-700-6
Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.
A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.
Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in Utah
Colleges in Utah