This bill creates citizenship grade standards, attendance-based grading, and a test-out option for core classes.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Starting with the 2027-2028 school year, Utah's State Board of Education would be directed to create statewide standards for "citizenship grades" — separate evaluations of skills like attendance, meeting deadlines, class participation, and communication with teachers — which local school districts and charter schools could then choose to adopt, while parents would have the right to opt their child out of citizenship grading, though doing so would make the student ineligible for a new college scholarship program. Teachers would be allowed to count attendance for up to 10% of a student's final grade in a course, or up to 20% if a school district adopts a formal policy allowing it, and the bill would eliminate the current requirement that attendance-based grading only occur through an individualized plan developed with parental consent. The bill would also require the State Board to establish a statewide test-out option so high school students can demonstrate mastery of required core courses — English, math, science, and social studies — without attending the class, exempting those students from attendance-based grading. Finally, the bill would create a Citizenship Scholarship Fund for college students, funded through voluntary contributions Utahns designate on their state income tax returns, with scholarships distributed to students who demonstrated strong citizenship grades and attendance throughout high school, while students who opted out of citizenship grading would remain ineligible for those scholarships.
Current version: HB0502S04 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 5
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 20
House Floor Vote
Feb 26
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Mar 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 4
House Concurrence
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 19
IntroductionFeb 5
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 20
House Floor VoteFeb 26
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeMar 4
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 4
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 4
House ConcurrenceMar 5
Governor SignedMar 19
This bill creates citizenship grade standards, attendance-based grading, and a test-out option for core classes.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Starting with the 2027-2028 school year, Utah's State Board of Education would be directed to create statewide standards for "citizenship grades" — separate evaluations of skills like attendance, meeting deadlines, class participation, and communication with teachers — which local school districts and charter schools could then choose to adopt, while parents would have the right to opt their child out of citizenship grading, though doing so would make the student ineligible for a new college scholarship program. Teachers would be allowed to count attendance for up to 10% of a student's final grade in a course, or up to 20% if a school district adopts a formal policy allowing it, and the bill would eliminate the current requirement that attendance-based grading only occur through an individualized plan developed with parental consent. The bill would also require the State Board to establish a statewide test-out option so high school students can demonstrate mastery of required core courses — English, math, science, and social studies — without attending the class, exempting those students from attendance-based grading. Finally, the bill would create a Citizenship Scholarship Fund for college students, funded through voluntary contributions Utahns designate on their state income tax returns, with scholarships distributed to students who demonstrated strong citizenship grades and attendance throughout high school, while students who opted out of citizenship grading would remain ineligible for those scholarships.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM