UTAH COUNTY ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Policies and Procedures on
CORE CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
POLICY JH
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline the minimum core curriculum and high school graduation requirements for the Utah County Academy of Sciences.
2. Course standards
The State Board of Education establishes minimum course description standards and objectives for each course in the required general core curriculum. Course descriptions for other required and elective courses have been developed by Utah Valley University. The descriptions should contain and stress mastery criteria for the courses rather than completion of predetermined time allotments for subjects. Implementation and assessment procedures for approved courses are the responsibility of the administration of UCAS.
3. Character education
a. The teaching of positive character habits shall be incorporated into the curriculum at all
appropriate levels. That instruction will include honesty, temperance, morality, courtesy,
and obedience to law. Students shall be taught to value the rights and freedoms embodied in
the founding documents of the United States and of the State of Utah, and to assume the
commensurate personal and societal responsibilities which assure the perpetuation of those
freedoms. Students shall also be taught the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise
system, respect for parents and home, and the dignity and necessity of honest labor and other
skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright and desirable
citizenry and better prepare students for a richer, happier life.
b. Instruction shall also include a focus on the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and
controlled substances (UCA 53A-13-102).
c. As part of the Utah County Academy of Sciences character education program, all
employees will teach and demonstrate a commitment to the principles of caring, honesty,
respect, trust, responsibility, and family.
4. The UCAS Board of Trustees requires that students earn the following minimum credits for graduation:
Subject Areas Units of Credit Required
Language Arts 4.0
(Must include English 9, 10, and 11. The fourth credit may be any other language arts course.)
Mathematics 4.0
(Must include Secondary Math I, Secondary Math II, Secondary Math III and one University level math course such as Math 1030/1040 or Math 1050)
Science 4.0
(Two units of credit must come from two of the four science areas: earth sciences, physics, biology, or chemistry)
Social Studies 3.0
Geography .5
World Civilizations .5
U.S. History 1.0
U.S. Government and Citizenship 1.0
Computer Technology .5
Career and Technology Education 1.0
(May include: mechatronics, commercial art, web-deign)
Fine Arts 1.5
(May include: visual arts, music, dance, or theater.)
Physical Education 1.5
(Includes Participation Skills, Fitness for Life, and one other optional physical education class.)
Health Education .5
General Financial Literacy .5
Total Required Core Credits 21.5
Total Required Elective Credits 2.5
Total Required Credits 24 plus
a. UCAS students must be on track to earn their high school required credit courses as outlined on the students Student Education Occupation Plan/Career College Readiness (SEOP/CCR) before they are able to receive a UCAS scholarship for UVU University studies required general associate degree courses and UVU University studies general associate degree elective courses (preferably in a STEM field). UCAS will pay for up to 60 credits - when the student reaches the required University studies general associate degree requirements. (In some rare occurrences, students may appeal for a few additional credits [5 credits or less] to be taken in a STEM related course.) Credits paid for with a UCAS tuition scholarship are earned during the traditional school year (summer classes are not included).
5. UCAS will award diplomas to secondary school students as follows:
a. A basic high school diploma will be awarded to a student who has successfully
completed all state and school course requirements for graduation.
Students with disabilities may be allowed accommodations in meeting the requirements for a basic high school diploma, consistent with State and Federal law and in accordance with their IEP or Section 504 Plans.
b. Diplomas or transcripts will not be withheld from students for non-payment of school fees.
c. In order to participate in high school graduation exercises, students must meet the standards
established by the Utah County Academy of Sciences Board of Trustees. Students must have earned all required credits to earn a basic high school diploma to participate in graduation exercises. Students who do not receive a basic high school diploma do not participate in UCAS graduation exercises.
6. Transfers from non-accredited private schools, foreign schools, or home schools
a. Students who enter UCAS after transferring from a public or private non-accredited school,
home school or foreign school must meet the minimum requirements listed above. Students who transfer from a non-accredited private school, home school, or foreign school for their junior or senior years only may not earn a diploma from the Utah County Academy of Sciences, if they do not meet the minimum requirements listed.
b. Utah County Academy of Sciences students who attend school in a foreign country for one
or more years and then return to UCAS must submit a transcript of courses taken to the
counseling department at UCAS for a credit evaluation. Credits may be posted to the
student’s official transcript if the assigned counselor and the Principal can confirm the
validity of the courses taken.
7. Credit and grade acceptance
a. UCAS will accept all grades and credit from schools accredited by their state’s program or by state agencies. These schools may be public or private.
b. All transfer grades and credit must be received at least thirty days before graduation.
c. All grades and credit accepted by UCAS must be on an official accredited transcript signed by an authorized representative from the sending school.
d. A student may choose to challenge a UVU class by taking a CLEP (College Level
Examination Program) test. The student is responsible to prepare, schedule, and pay the fees for the CLEP. UCAS will transcript the credit from the CLEP when it is presented to UCAS on an official transcript.
e. When a student chooses to repeat a class, the second grade and credit earned in the retake
class will replace the first grade and credit earned in the class regardless of the grade and
credit earned. The first class and grade will be noted in the student’s permanent file but will
not appear on the UCAS transcript. The grade point average and total credits earned will not
include the class when taken the first time. Concurrent Enrollment courses are not allowed to be retaken (as per UVU rule). UCAS will not pay for any class that is repeated.
References:
Utah Code 53A-1-401(3)
Utah Code 53A-13-101
Utah Code 53A-13-102
Utah Code 53A-1-6-6(1)
Utah Code 53A-13-104
Utah Code 53A-17a-120
Utah Administrative Code R277-700
Utah Administrative Code R277-702
Utah Administrative Code R277-705
Original policy UCAS Board approved February 15, 2005
Revised November 21, 2006
Revised December 17, 2013
Approved 10/20/2015
CB 11/2013
AT 08/15