AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.

Starting with the 2027-2028 school year, this bill makes several changes to how Utah public schools grade and assess students in grades 7-12. It directs the State Board of Education to create statewide standards for "citizenship grades" — a separate evaluation of skills like attendance, meeting deadlines, class participation, and teacher communication — which local school districts and charter schools may then choose to adopt; parents can opt their child out of citizenship grading, though opting out makes students ineligible for a new scholarship program. The bill also allows teachers to count attendance for up to 10% of a student's final course grade (or up to 20% if a school district adopts a policy allowing it), removes the previous requirement that attendance-based grading be done through an individualized plan with parental consent, and requires the State Board to create a test-out option so high school students can demonstrate mastery of required core courses — English, math, science, and social studies — without attending the class. Finally, the bill creates a Citizenship Scholarship Fund for college students, funded entirely by optional contributions Utahns can designate on their state income tax returns, with scholarships awarded to students who demonstrated strong citizenship grades and attendance throughout high school. High school students who participate in citizenship grading and maintain strong attendance records become eligible for these college scholarships, while students whose families opt out of citizenship grading are excluded from that opportunity.