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Posted in P&P Sec E.

EHC

Created:  27 May 2025
Modified:  
Approved: 5 November 2025

Graduation:

Focused Graduation Pathway

Board Approval of Focused Graduation Pathway—

A District school may participate in the Focused Graduation Pathway program and enroll students in the program if the Board of Education grants approval to the school and if the approved application has been submitted to the State Superintendent of Education. For approval to be granted, the school must submit a written application to the Board of Education which:

  1. Outlines how the Focused Graduation Pathway will be implemented in the school;
  2. Demonstrates that the school has developed school policies and procedures to implement the program, consistent with the requirements set out in this policy; and
  3. Designates a Focused Graduation Pathway Coordinator to oversee the program.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-3(1) (February 7, 2025)

Program Requirements—

A participating school must:

  1. Maintain a student-teacher ratio for the program which does not exceed the school’s average student-teacher ratio for all GED preparation courses;
  2. Provide necessary support for a student with disabilities, as required by Utah Admin. Rule R277-705;
  3. Provide subject-matter experts to students when preparing for each GED test;
  4. Coordinate the clearance of GED alerts for a Focused Graduation Pathway student with the State Superintendent; and
  5. Annually report to the State Superintendent on Focused Graduation Pathway enrollment, completion rates, and other relevant data as required by the State Superintendent.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-3(3) (February 7, 2025)

Student Enrollment in the Focused Graduation Pathway—

To enroll in the Focused Graduation Pathway program, a student must:

  1. Be at least 16 years of age;
  2. Be a junior or senior enrolled in the high school;
  3. Be significantly behind in high school credits earned, which means
    1. If a junior, at least 6 credits behind, or
    2. If a senior at least 3 credits behind;
  4. Demonstrate 9th grade reading level or higher on an assessment chosen by the District; and
  5. Participate in a formal meeting with applicable school staff where:
    1. The policies and procedures for the Focused Graduation Pathway are explained, and
    2. Voluntary consent of the student’s parent (or of the student if the student is a verified unaccompanied minor) is provided for participation.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-4 (February 7, 2025)

Once enrolled in the Focused Graduation Pathway, the student must remain enrolled in a Utah K-12 school throughout the entirety of the pathway. The school may not withdraw the student from enrollment in the school before the student takes any of the four subject GED tests.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-3(2) (February 7, 2025)

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-4(1)(e) (February 7, 2025)

Testing and Credit—

A Focused Graduation Pathway student shall complete a GED exam at approved testing centers or through an online proctored test, in accordance with GED policies and procedures. A Focused Graduation Pathway student may be awarded core credit for passing GED exams as determined by the school and as outlined in the school’s application, up to the amounts as follows:

  1. 4.0 credits for language arts for passing Reasoning through Language Arts;
  2. 3.0 credits for social studies for passing Social Studies;
  3. 3.0 credits for mathematics for passing Mathematical Reasoning; and
  4. 3.0 credits for science for passing Science.

Awarded credit shall be recorded on a transcript as pass/fail instead of a letter grade. To be eligible for graduation, a Focused Graduation Pathway student must complete all remaining graduation requirements under Policy EHA.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-5 (February 7, 2025)

Diploma and Official Transcripts—

Upon successful completion of the Focused Graduation Pathway and all other graduation requirements, a Focused Graduation Pathway student shall be awarded a traditional high school diploma and be eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies. A Focused Graduation Pathway student who completes the GED exam in English and fulfills the requirements of Utah Admin. Rules R277-499 shall be eligible for the Seal of Biliteracy.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-722-6 (February 7, 2025)

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