Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 219 First Substitute (2015GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Stephenson, H.

Final action

Senate/ filed 3/12/2015

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides for the State Board of Education to establish proficiency in a world language as a graduation requirement;
• provides for the State Board of Education to establish a biliterate proficiency seal;
• establishes requirements for a student to receive a biliterate proficiency seal on the student's high school diploma;
• requires the State Board of Education to make rules;
• requires a local education agency to place a biliterate proficiency seal on the high school diploma of a qualifying student;
• requires a local education agency to indicate on a qualifying student's high school transcript that the student has received a biliterate proficiency seal; and
• modifies the world language education requirement to qualify for a Board of Regents scholarship.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

WORLD LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY RECOGNITION
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
House Sponsor: 
____________
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill enacts and amends provisions relating to world language requirements for
secondary students.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides for the State Board of Education to establish proficiency in a world
language as a graduation requirement;
▸ provides for the State Board of Education to establish a biliterate proficiency seal;
▸ establishes requirements for a student to receive a biliterate proficiency seal on the
student's high school diploma;
▸ requires the State Board of Education to make rules;
▸ requires a local education agency to place a biliterate proficiency seal on the high
school diploma of a qualifying student;
▸ requires a local education agency to indicate on a qualifying student's high school
transcript that the student has received a biliterate proficiency seal; and
▸ modifies the world language education requirement to qualify for a Board of
Regents scholarship.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53A-13-108
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 70
53B-8-109
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 64
ENACTS:
53A-13-108.1
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53A-13-108
 is amended to read:
53A-13-108.
Curriculum and graduation requirements.
(1) The State Board of Education shall establish rigorous curriculum and graduation
requirements under Section 
53A-1-402
 for grades 9 through 12 that:
(a) are consistent with state law and federal regulations; and
(b) beginning no later than with the graduating class of 2008:
(i) use competency-based standards and assessments;
(ii) include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to
financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy test-out
option; and
(iii) increase graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science to
exceed the existing credit requirements of 3.0 units in language arts, 2.0 units in mathematics,
and 2.0 units in science.
(2) Beginning with the graduating class of 2020, the State Board of Education shall
establish a graduation requirement that a student shall at a minimum:
(a) study the same world language, as defined in Section 
53A-13-108.1
, for two years
during grades 7 through 12; or
(b) qualify for a biliterate proficiency seal described in Section 
53A-13-108.1
.
[
(2)
] 
(3)
 The State Board of Education shall also establish competency-based standards
and assessments for elective courses.
[
(3)
] 
(4)
 On or before July 1, 2014, the State Board of Education shall adopt revised
course standards and objectives for the course of instruction in general financial literacy
described in Subsection (1)(b) that address:
(a) the costs of going to college, student loans, scholarships, and the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
(b) technology that relates to banking, savings, and financial products.
[
(4)
] 
(5)
 The State Board of Education shall administer the course of instruction in
general financial literacy described in Subsection (1)(b) in the same manner as other core
curriculum courses for grades 9 through 12 are administered.
Section 2. Section 
53A-13-108.1
 is enacted to read:
 53A-13-108.1.
Biliterate proficiency seal.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Biliterate proficiency seal" means a seal placed on a student's high school diploma
that indicates a student has achieved:
(i) in a world language, a level of proficiency described in Subsection (2)(c)(i) in one
of the following three categories:
(A) novice;
(B) intermediate; or
(C) advanced; and
(ii) proficiency in English.
(b) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
(c) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
(i) a school district;
(ii) a charter school; or
(iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
(d) "World language" means a language other than English, including:
(i) American Sign Language;
(ii) a classical language; or
(iii) an indigenous language.
(e) "Utah Performance Assessment System for Students" means the same as that term
is defined in Section 
53A-1-602
.
(2) The board shall:
(a) establish a biliterate proficiency seal for placement on a student's high school
diploma;
(b) prepare appropriate insignias for an LEA to place on a student diploma to indicate
each of the proficiency levels described in Subsection (1)(a)(i); and
(c) make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act, that:
(i) establish the requirements a student shall meet to achieve:
(A) a high level of proficiency in a novice category;
(B) at least a moderate level of proficiency in an intermediate category; and
(C) at least a low level of proficiency in an advanced category; and
(ii) require an LEA to determine whether a student meets the requirements for a
biliterate proficiency seal described in Subsection (3).
(3) A student shall receive a biliterate proficiency seal if the student demonstrates
proficiency in:
(a) a world language by meeting the proficiency requirements described in Subsection
(2)(c)(i); and
(b) English by:
(i) completing all English language arts graduation requirements with an overall grade
point average of 2.0 or above in English language arts classes; and
(ii) scoring at the proficient level or above on the Utah Performance Assessment
System for Students test in English language arts and literacy administered in grade 11.
(4) If a student qualifies to receive a biliterate proficiency seal, an LEA shall:
(a) place a biliterate proficiency seal on the student's high school diploma, indicating
the student's category of world language proficiency; and
(b) indicate on the student's high school transcript:
(i) that the student received a biliterate proficiency seal; and
(ii) the category of biliterate proficiency seal the student received.
Section 3. Section 
53B-8-109
 is amended to read:
53B-8-109.
Regents' Scholarship Program -- Base Regents' scholarship --
Qualifications -- Application.
(1) A student qualifies for a Base Regents' scholarship if the student:
(a) completes the high school graduation requirements of:
(i) a public school established by the State Board of Education and the student's school
district or charter school; or
(ii) a private high school in the state that is accredited by a regional accrediting body
approved by the board;
(b) completes high school with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average;
(c) has at least one reported ACT test score; [
and
]
(d) (i) completes the following high school or college credit in grades 9-12:
(A) four units of credit of English;
(B) four units of credit of mathematics;
(C) three and one-half units of credit of social science; 
and
[
(D) three units of credit of lab-based natural science; and
]
[
(E)
] 
(D)
 two units of credit of sequential world or classical language other than
English; and
(ii) except as provided in Subsection (4), earns a course grade on a transcript of "C" or
above in each individual course listed in Subsection (1)(d)(i)[
.
]
; and
(e) demonstrates at a minimum, novice proficiency in a world language, as defined in
Section 
53A-13-108.1
, by:
(i) qualifying for a biliterate proficiency seal described in Section 
53A-13-108.1
;
(ii) completing the first and second year levels of the same world language, as defined
in Section 
53A-13-108.1
, in grades 7 through 12; or
(iii) another means acceptable to the board.
(2) The board shall establish policies to determine specific courses that meet the
requirements under Subsection (1)(d)(i).
(3) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student:
(a) shall submit an application to the board with:
(i) a copy of the student's official high school transcript and ACT scores; and
(ii) if applicable, a college transcript showing a college course the student has
completed to meet the requirements of Subsection (1)(d);
(b) shall be a citizen of the United States or a noncitizen who is eligible to receive
federal student aid;
(c) may not have a criminal record, with the exception of a misdemeanor traffic
citation; and
(d) if applicable, shall meet the application deadlines as established by the board under
Subsection 
53B-8-108
(9).
(4) For purposes of determining if a student meets the grade requirements of
Subsection (1)(d)(ii), the board shall assign additional weights to grades earned in courses
described in Subsection (1)(d)(i) that are advanced placement, concurrent enrollment, or
International Baccalaureate program courses.
(5) (a) The amount of the Base Regents' scholarship is $1,000.
(b) The board may adjust the amount of the Base Regents' scholarship by up to a
percentage of the average percentage tuition increase approved by the board for institutions in
the system of higher education.
(6) (a) The board shall require an applicant for a Regents' scholarship to certify under
penalty of perjury that:
(i) the applicant is a United States citizen; or
(ii) the applicant is a noncitizen who is eligible to receive federal student aid.
(b) The certification under this Subsection (6) shall include a statement advising the
signer that providing false information subjects the signer to penalties for perjury.
Legislative Review Note
 as of 2-17-15 2:43 PM
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel