53A-15-102 - Early graduation incentives -- Incentive to school district -- Partial tuition scholarship for student -- Payments.
53A-15-102. Early graduation incentives -- Incentive to school district -- Partialtuition scholarship for student -- Payments.
(1) Any secondary public school student who has completed all required courses ordemonstrated mastery of required skills and competencies may, with the approval of the student,the student's parent or guardian, and an authorized local school official, graduate at any time.
(2) Each public high school shall receive an amount equal to 1/2 of the scholarshipawarded to each student who graduates from the school at or prior to the conclusion of theeleventh grade, or a proportionately lesser amount for any student who graduates after theconclusion of the eleventh grade but prior to the conclusion of the twelfth grade.
(3) (a) A student who graduates from high school at or prior to the conclusion of theeleventh grade shall receive a centennial scholarship in the lesser amount of full tuition for oneyear or $1,000 to be used for full time enrollment at a Utah public college, university, communitycollege, applied technology center, or any other institution in the state of Utah, accredited by theNorthwest Association of Schools and Colleges that offers postsecondary courses of the student'schoice upon verification that the student has registered at the institution during the fiscal yearfollowing graduation from high school.
(b) In the case of a student who graduates after the conclusion of the eleventh grade butprior to the conclusion of the twelfth grade, the student shall receive a centennial scholarship of aproportionately lesser amount.
(4) (a) The payments authorized in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) shall be made during thefiscal year that follows the student's graduation.
(b) The payments authorized in Subsection (3)(b) may be made during the fiscal year inwhich the student graduates or the fiscal year following the student's graduation.
(5) (a) The State Board of Education shall administer the payment program authorized inSubsections (2), (3), and (4).
(b) (i) The Legislature shall make an annual appropriation from the Uniform SchoolFund to the State Board of Education for the costs associated with the Centennial ScholarshipProgram based on the projected number of students who will graduate before the conclusion ofthe twelfth grade in any given year.
(ii) It is understood that the appropriation is offset by the state money that wouldotherwise be required and appropriated for these students if they were enrolled in an additionalgrade for a full year.
Amended by Chapter 96, 1995 General Session