Signed by Governor Butch Otter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes a program for high school students to earn an associate's degree by high school graduation.

Highlights:

• Establishes the “8 in 6 Program” which will allow students to complete the 2 years of junior high, 4 years of high school, and the first 2 years of college in 6 years rather than 8 through the following actions (Sec. 2):
• Taking full course loads during the year;
• Taking 1 or 2 online courses during the summer or as online overload courses; 
• Completing dual credit courses upon receiving their high school diploma; and
• Taking and successfully completing a dual credit or professional-technical education course for “at least a portion” of the students courses for 11th or 12th grade.

• Specifies that the state Department of Education will pay $225 for each summer online or online overload course, excluding dual credit courses, for up to 8 courses taken per student during the student’s whole participation in the program (Sec. 2).

• Requires that students who fail to receive a “C” or better in an online course while participating in the program to pay and complete an overload course with a grade of a “C” or higher in order to continue in the program (Sec. 2).

• Limits participation in the program to no more than 10 percent of students in each grade 7 through 12 and stipulates that the school district shall establish a participation preference criteria if the number of students applying for the program exceeds the number of slots available (Sec. 2).

• Defines “overload course” as a course taken that is in excess of the number of courses taken in a normal school day, as defined by the state Department of Education (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a program for high school students to earn an associate's degree by high school graduation.

Highlights:

• Establishes the “8 in 6 Program” which will allow students to complete the 2 years of junior high, 4 years of high school, and the first 2 years of college in 6 years rather than 8 through the following actions (Sec. 2):
• Taking full course loads during the year;
• Taking 1 or 2 online courses during the summer or as online overload courses; 
• Completing dual credit courses upon receiving their high school diploma; and
• Taking and successfully completing a dual credit or professional-technical education course for “at least a portion” of the students courses for 11th or 12th grade.

• Specifies that the state Department of Education will pay $225 for each summer online or online overload course, excluding dual credit courses, for up to 8 courses taken per student during the student’s whole participation in the program (Sec. 2).

• Requires that students who fail to receive a “C” or better in an online course while participating in the program to pay and complete an overload course with a grade of a “C” or higher in order to continue in the program (Sec. 2).

• Limits participation in the program to no more than 10 percent of students in each grade 7 through 12 and stipulates that the school district shall establish a participation preference criteria if the number of students applying for the program exceeds the number of slots available (Sec. 2).

• Defines “overload course” as a course taken that is in excess of the number of courses taken in a normal school day, as defined by the state Department of Education (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text