This bill modifies graduation requirements and provides services for high school students experiencing homelessness or involved in the child welfare system.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
For high school students experiencing homelessness or involved in the child welfare system, this bill would create new statewide protections and support requirements that school districts must follow. It would require districts to offer diplomas based on a state baseline graduation standard set by the State Board of Education, meaning local add-on requirements couldn't block these students from graduating within four years, and districts would have to accept full or partial credits earned in settings like mental health facilities, juvenile detention, distance learning, or other schools. When students change schools, districts couldn't impose new graduation requirements that would delay graduation, and homeless students would gain the right to stay in their original school during homelessness and for one additional year after finding permanent housing. The bill would also restrict suspensions and expulsions by requiring districts to presume a student's behavior stemmed from their circumstances before removing them from class for more than a day, and would require schools to designate a point of contact for these students, provide personal graduation plans reviewed each semester, offer tutoring and career pathway programs at little or no cost, track and report data on discipline and outcomes, and train staff annually, with the State Board authorized to make rules and take corrective action against districts that don't comply.
Introduction
Jan 21
Senate Rules
Mar 3
Senate Committee
Jan 23
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
House Rules
House Committee
House Floor Vote
Governor
IntroductionJan 21
Senate RulesMar 3
Senate CommitteeJan 23
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
House Rules
House Committee
House Floor Vote
Governor
This bill modifies graduation requirements and provides services for high school students experiencing homelessness or involved in the child welfare system.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
For high school students experiencing homelessness or involved in the child welfare system, this bill would create new statewide protections and support requirements that school districts must follow. It would require districts to offer diplomas based on a state baseline graduation standard set by the State Board of Education, meaning local add-on requirements couldn't block these students from graduating within four years, and districts would have to accept full or partial credits earned in settings like mental health facilities, juvenile detention, distance learning, or other schools. When students change schools, districts couldn't impose new graduation requirements that would delay graduation, and homeless students would gain the right to stay in their original school during homelessness and for one additional year after finding permanent housing. The bill would also restrict suspensions and expulsions by requiring districts to presume a student's behavior stemmed from their circumstances before removing them from class for more than a day, and would require schools to designate a point of contact for these students, provide personal graduation plans reviewed each semester, offer tutoring and career pathway programs at little or no cost, track and report data on discipline and outcomes, and train staff annually, with the State Board authorized to make rules and take corrective action against districts that don't comply.
Senate/ filed
Senate file for bills not passed
Senate/ strike enacting clause
Senate Secretary
Senate/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules
Senate Rules Committee
Senate Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
Senate Education Committee
Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
Senate Education Committee
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM