Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 191 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Teuscher, Jordan D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/26/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• allows a local education agency to award a high school student credit for a course completed through the packet method if the packet meets certain requirements;
• requires the State Board of Education to review and approve packets;
• creates a sunset for a certain report;
• makes technical and conforming changes; and
• creates a reporting requirement.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

8
53E-1-201
53E-3-501
63I-2-253
0
High School Credit Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher
Senate Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the use of an instructional packet to receive credit in public high schools.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
allows a local education agency to award a high school student credit for a course 
completed through the packet method if the packet meets certain requirements;
requires the State Board of Education to review and approve packets;
creates a sunset for a certain report;
makes technical and conforming changes; and
creates a reporting requirement.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-1-201
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 3, 460 and 525
53E-3-501
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 527
63I-2-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Third Special Session, Chapters 5, 5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53E-1-201
 is amended to read:
53E-1-201
. Reports to and action required of the Education Interim Committee.
(1)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section 
68-3-14
, the following recurring 
reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a)
the report described in Section 
9-22-109
 by the STEM Action Center Board, 
including the information described in Section 
9-22-113
 on the status of the computer 
science initiative and Section 
9-22-114
 on the Computing Partnerships Grants 
Program;
(b)
the prioritized list of data research described in Section 
53B-33-302
 and the report on 
research and activities described in Section 
53B-33-304
 by the Utah Data Research 
Center;
(c)
the report described in Section 
53B-1-402
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education on 
career and technical education issues and addressing workforce needs;
(d)
the annual report of the Utah Board of Higher Education described in Section 
53B-1-402
;
(e)
the reports described in Section 
53B-28-401
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education 
regarding activities related to campus safety;
(f)
the State Superintendent's Annual Report by the state board described in Section 
53E-1-203
;
(g)
the annual report described in Section 
53E-2-202
 by the state board on the strategic 
plan to improve student outcomes;
(h)
the report described in Section 
53E-3-501
 by the state board on students in an LEA 
who receive academic credit through the packet method;
(h)
(i)
the report described in Section 
53E-8-204
 by the state board on the Utah Schools 
for the Deaf and the Blind;
(i)
(j)
the report described in Section 
53E-10-703
 by the Utah Leading through 
Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education director on research and other 
activities;
(j)
(k)
the report described in Section 
53F-2-522
 regarding mental health screening 
programs;
(k)
(l)
the report described in Section 
53F-4-203
 by the state board and the independent 
evaluator on an evaluation of early interactive reading software;
(l)
(m)
the report described in Section 
63N-20-107
 by the Governor's Office of 
Economic Opportunity on UPSTART;
(m)
(n)
the reports described in Sections 
53F-5-214
 and 
53F-5-215
 by the state board 
related to grants for professional learning and grants for an elementary teacher 
preparation assessment;
(n)
(o)
upon request, the report described in Section 
53F-5-219
 by the state board on 
the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program;
(o)
(p)
the report described in Section 
53F-5-405
 by the state board regarding an 
evaluation of a partnership that receives a grant to improve educational outcomes for 
students who are low income;
(p)
(q)
the report described in Section 
53B-35-202
 regarding the Higher Education and 
Corrections Council;
(q)
(r)
the report described in Section 
53G-7-221
 by the state board regarding 
innovation plans;
 and
(r)
(s)
the reports described in Section 
53F-6-412
 regarding the Utah Fits All 
Scholarship Program.
(2)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section 
68-3-14
, the following occasional 
reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a)
in 2027, 2030, 2033, and 2035, the reports described in Sections 
53B-1-116
, 
53B-1-117
, and 
53B-1-118
;
(b)
if required, the report described in Section 
53E-4-309
 by the state board explaining 
the reasons for changing the grade level specification for the administration of 
specific assessments;
(c)
if required, the report described in Section 
53E-5-210
 by the state board of an 
adjustment to the minimum level that demonstrates proficiency for each statewide 
assessment;
(d)
the report described in Section 
53E-10-702
 by Utah Leading through Effective, 
Actionable, and Dynamic Education;
(e)
if required, the report described in Section 
53F-2-513
 by the state board evaluating 
the effects of salary bonuses on the recruitment and retention of effective teachers in 
high poverty schools;
(f)
upon request, a report described in Section 
53G-7-222
 by an LEA regarding 
expenditure of a percentage of state restricted funds to support an innovative 
education program;
(g)
the reports described in Section 
53G-11-304
 by the state board regarding proposed 
rules and results related to educator exit surveys; and
(h)
the report described in Section 
26B-5-113
 by the Office of Substance Use and 
Mental Health, the state board, and the Department of Health and Human Services 
regarding recommendations related to Medicaid reimbursement for school-based 
health services.
Section 2, Section 
53E-3-501
 is amended to read:
53E-3-501
. State board to establish miscellaneous minimum standards for public 
schools.
(1)
The state board shall establish rules and minimum standards for the public schools that 
are consistent with this public education code, including rules and minimum standards 
governing the following:
(a)
(i)
the qualification and certification of educators and ancillary personnel who 
provide direct student services;
(ii)
required school administrative and supervisory services; and
(iii)
the evaluation of instructional personnel;
(b)
(i)
access to programs;
(ii)
attendance;
(iii)
competency levels;
(iv)
graduation requirements; and
(v)
discipline and control;
(c)
(i)
school accreditation;
(ii)
the academic year;
(iii)
alternative and pilot programs;
(iv)
curriculum and instruction requirements; and
(v)
school libraries;
(d)
services to:
(i)
persons with a disability as defined by and covered under:
(A)
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12102;
(B)
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 705(20)(A); and
(C)
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1401(3); and
(ii)
other special groups;
(e)
(i)
state reimbursed bus routes;
(ii)
bus safety and operational requirements; and
(iii)
other transportation needs;
(f)
(i)
school productivity and cost effectiveness measures;
(ii)
federal programs;
(iii)
school budget formats; and
(iv)
financial, statistical, and student accounting requirements; and
(g)
data collection and reporting by LEAs.
(2)
Except as provided in Subsection 
(3)
, the state board shall determine if:
(a)
the minimum standards have been met; and
(b)
required reports are properly submitted.
(3)
When the state board makes a request of an LEA under Subsection 
(1)(f)
 or 
(g)
, the 
state board shall include:
(a)
the justification for the requested information;
(b)
a statement confirming that the information is not available elsewhere;
(c)
a deadline by which the LEA must provide the information in accordance with state 
board rule; and
(d)
penalties, including withholding of funds, for non-compliance in accordance with 
state and federal law.
(4)
The state board may apply for, receive, administer, and distribute to eligible applicants 
funds made available through programs of the federal government.
(5)
(a)
A technical college listed in Section 
53B-2a-105
 shall provide competency-based 
career and technical education courses that fulfill high school graduation 
requirements, as requested and authorized by the state board.
(b)
A school district may grant a high school diploma to a student participating in a 
course described in Subsection 
(5)(a)
 that is provided by a technical college listed in 
Section 
53B-2a-105
.
(6)
(a)
As used in this Subsection 
(6)
, "generally accepted accounting principles" means a 
common framework of accounting rules and standards for financial reporting 
promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
(b)
Subject to Subsections 
(6)(c)
 and 
(d)
, the state board shall ensure the rules and 
standards described in Subsections 
(1)(f)
 and 
(g)
 allow for an LEA to make 
adjustments to the LEA's general entry ledger, in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles, to accurately reflect the LEA's use of funds for allowable costs 
and activities:
(i)
during a fiscal year; and
(ii)
at the close of a fiscal year.
(c)
If the state board determines under Subsection 
(2)
 that an LEA has not met the 
minimum standards described in Subsection 
(1)(f)
 or 
(g)
 or has not properly 
submitted a required report, the state board shall allow the LEA an opportunity to 
cure the relevant defect through an adjustment described in Subsection 
(6)(b)
.
(d)
An LEA may not, in an adjustment described in Subsection
(6)(b)
, reflect the use 
of restricted federal or state funds for a cost or activity that is not an allowable cost or 
activity for the restricted funds.
(7)
(a)
As used in this Subsection 
(7)
:
(i)
(A)
"Comparable course" means a course that fulfills the same graduation credit 
requirements as a course for which a student seeks to improve a grade.
(B)
"Comparable course" does not include a course a student completes through 
the packet method.
(ii)
"Grade replacement" means credit a student earns by retaking a teacher-led 
course for a letter grade to improve a previous grade, which:
(A)
may raise the student's grade point average if the new grade is higher; and
(B)
replaces the lower grade on the student's transcript.
(iii)
"Original credit" means credit a student earns through the successful completion 
of a course for the first time.
(iv)
"Packet" means a collection of instructional materials and assessments used to 
receive credit through the packet method.
(v)
"Packet method" means an educational approach where:
(A)
a high school student receives a collection of instructional materials from an 
institution, organization, or LEA;
(B)
the high school student works through the materials independently with 
minimal or no direct instruction from a teacher; and
(C)
assessment is primarily based on completion of assignments within the 
instructional materials.
(vi)
"Replacement credit" means a pass-fail credit a student earns for a course the 
student did not pass or complete, which:
(A)
does not affect the student's grade point average; and
(B)
allows the student to fulfill high school graduation requirements.
(b)
An LEA may award a grade for original credit or replacement credit through the 
packet method if the packet adheres to the standards prescribed in state board rule 
and:
(i)
the LEA approves the packet for use as an instructional material in accordance 
with:
(A)
Subsection 
53G-4-402(27)
 for a district school; or
(B)
Section 
53G-5-404
 for a charter school; or
(ii)
the state board recommends the packet after going through the state instructional 
materials process described in Title 53E, Chapter 4, Part 4, State Instructional 
Materials.
(c)
An LEA may not use the packet method, or classify a packet as original credit, to 
improve a previous course grade of a high school student as described in Subsection 
(7)(d)
.
(d)
A high school student may improve a grade through grade replacement by:
(i)
repeating a course one or more times; or
(ii)
enrolling in and completing a comparable course that is teacher-led.
(e)
The state board shall:
(i)
in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, 
make rules or policies that:
(A)
establish standards for the use of the packet method to award original credit 
and replacement credit;
(B)
include alignment with core standards the state board establishes under 
Sections 
53E-3-501
 and 
53E-4-202
; and
(C)
maintain a comprehensive list of state board approved packets in the state 
board's Recommended Instructional Materials System on the state board's 
website; and
(ii)
report annually to the Education Interim Committee the number of students in 
each LEA who receive academic credit through the packet method.
(f)
An LEA shall:
(i)
assign a distinct course name and number for credit earned through the packet 
method to easily identify the use of the packet method on a student transcript; and
(ii)
track and record the number of packets an LEA uses to award original credit or 
replacement credit each school year.
Section 3, Section 
63I-2-253
 is amended to read:
63I-2-253
. Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
(1)
Subsection 
53-1-104
(1)(b), regarding the Air Ambulance Committee, is repealed July 1, 
2024.
(2)
Section 
53-1-118
, Public Safety Honoring Heroes Restricted Account -- Creation -- 
Funding -- Distribution of funds by the commissioner, is repealed July 1, 2024.
(3)
Section 
53-1-120
, Utah Law Enforcement Memorial Support Restricted Account -- 
Creation -- Funding -- Distribution of funds by the commissioner, is repealed July 1, 
2024.
(4)
Section 
53-2a-303
, Statewide mutual aid committee, is repealed October 1, 2024.
(5)
Title 53, Chapter 2c, COVID-19 Health and Economic Response Act, is repealed July 1, 
2026.
(6)
Section 
53-2d-101.1
, Contracting authority -- Rulemaking authority, is repealed July 1, 
2024.
(7)
Section 
53-2d-107
, Air Ambulance Committee -- Membership -- Duties, is repealed 
July 1, 2024.
(8)
Section 
53-2d-302
, Trauma system advisory committee, is repealed October 1, 2024.
(9)
Section 
53-7-109
, Firefighter Support Restricted Account, is repealed July 1, 2024.
(10)
Section 
53-9-104
, Board -- Creation-- Qualifications -- Appointments -- Terms -- 
Immunity, is repealed October 1, 2024.
(11)
Section 
53-9-105
, Powers and duties of the board, is repealed October 1, 2024.
(12)
Section 
53-9-106
, Meetings -- Hearings, is repealed October 1, 2024.
(13)
Section 
53-22-104.1
, School Security Task Force -- Membership -- Duties -- Per diem 
-- Report -- Expiration, is repealed December 31, 2025.
(14)
Section 
53-22-104.2
, The School Security Task Force -- Education Advisory Board, is 
repealed December 31, 2025.
(15)
Section 
53-25-103
, Airport dangerous weapon possession reporting requirements, is 
repealed December 31, 2031.
(16)
Section 
53B-8-114
, Continuation of previously authorized scholarships, is repealed 
July 1, 2024.
(17)
Section 
53B-10-101
, Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program -- Eligible 
students -- Cancellation of incentive loans -- Repayment by recipient who fails to meet 
requirements -- Duration of incentive loans, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(18)
Subsection 
53E-3-501(7)(e)(ii)
, regarding a report on the packet method, is repealed 
July 1, 2028.
(18)
(19)
Subsection 
53F-2-504
(6), regarding a report on the Salary Supplement for 
Highly Needed Educators, is repealed July 1, 2026.
(19)
(20)
Section 
53F-2-524
, Teacher bonuses for extra assignments, is repealed July 1, 
2024.
(20)
(21)
Section 
53F-5-221
, Management of energy and water use pilot program, is 
repealed July 1, 2028.
(21)
(22)
Section 
53F-5-222
, Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and 
Refinement Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(22)
(23)
Section 
53F-5-223
, Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program, is repealed 
July 1, 2028.
(23)
(24)
Section 
53F-9-401
, Autism Awareness Restricted Account, is repealed July 1, 
2024.
(24)
(25)
Section 
53F-9-403
, Kiwanis Education Support Fund, is repealed July 1, 2024.
(25)
(26)
Subsection 
53G-11-502
(1), regarding implementation of the educator evaluation 
process, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(26)
(27)
Section 
53G-11-506
, Establishment of educator evaluation program -- Joint 
committee, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(27)
(28)
Section 
53G-11-507
, Components of educator evaluation program, is repealed 
July 1, 2029.
(28)
(29)
Section 
53G-11-508
, Summative evaluation timelines -- Review of summative 
evaluations, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(29)
(30)
Section 
53G-11-509
, Mentor for provisional educator, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(30)
(31)
Section 
53G-11-510
, State board to describe a framework for the evaluation of 
educators, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(31)
(32)
Section 
53G-11-511
, Rulemaking for privacy protection, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(32)
(33)
Subsection
53G-11-520
(1), regarding optional alternative educator evaluation 
processes, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(33)
(34)
Subsection 
53G-11-520
(2), regarding an exception from educator evaluation 
process requirements, is repealed July 1, 2029.
Section 4. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
3-11-25 4:32 PM