(b) verification that the candidate understands and accepts the consequences and educational choices associated with the candidate's withdrawal from a K-12 program of instruction, including the prohibition from returning to a K-12 program anywhere in Utah upon successful passing of an HSE exam; and(c) signed acknowledgment from the candidate's parent or guardian specifically stating that the candidate and parent or guardian:
(i) understand and accept the consequences and educational choices associated with the candidate's decision to withdraw from a K-12 program of instruction; and
(ii) authorize the candidate to take an HSE exam; and
(d) verification from a representative of a Utah state-sponsored adult education district program that the candidate demonstrates academic competencies to meet with success in passing the HSE exam.
(4) A student enrolled in the Focused Graduation Pathway as described in Rule R277-722 may take a Utah HSE exam while enrolled in any participating Utah K-12 school and does not need to submit a completed state of Utah HSE Candidate and Adult Education Eligibility Form.
(5) A 16 year-old candidate may provide a marriage certificate in lieu of the requirement of Subsection (3)(c) if the candidate is married.
(6) A 17 or 18 year-old candidate whose cohort has not graduated shall submit a state of Utah HSE Candidate and Adult Education Eligibility Form, which shall include:
(a) verification in a manner approved by the Superintendent that the candidate is not enrolled in school; and
(b) the signature of the candidate's parent or guardian authorizing the test.
(7) A candidate may submit a marriage certificate in lieu of the requirement contained in Subsection (5)(b) if the candidate is married.
(8) An out-of-school youth of school age who has not successfully passed all HSE exam modules shall be allowed to return to a k-12 public school before the time their class graduates with the understanding and expectation that all necessary requirements for the traditional k-12 diploma shall be completed before issuance of a regular high school diploma.
(9) An out-of-school youth of school age who has received a Utah high school completion diploma is not eligible to return to a k-12 public school unless it is required for provision of a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C., Chapter 33.
R277-702-5. Fees.
(1) The Superintendent, with approval of the Board, shall adopt uniform fees for the Utah high school completion diploma and uniform forms, deadlines, and accounting procedures to administer this program for inclusion with the contract with the contractor identified in accordance with Subsection R277-702-3(1)(a).
(2) An approved testing center may only collect a fee in accordance with the amounts and procedures approved pursuant to Subsection (1).
R277-702-6. Official Transcripts.
(1) The Board shall accept HSE exam scores when an original score is reported by:
(a) a Board-approved HSE exam testing center;
(b) the transcript service of the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support;
(c) a Veterans Administration hospital or center; or
(d) a contractor selected by the Superintendent in accordance with Subsection R277-702-3(1)(a) or the contractor's authorized agent.
(2) The Superintendent shall include a candidate's HSE exam result on the candidate's official transcript.
R277-702-7. Adult High School Outcomes.
(1) A local board of education may adopt standards and procedures for awarding up to five units of credit on the basis of test results which may be applied toward an adult education secondary diploma only if the student was enrolled in an adult education program before July 1, 2009 and an approved HSE exam was transcripted before July 1, 2009.
(2) An individual who took and passed an approved HSE exam before January 1, 2002 may enroll in an adult education program now and in the future to obtain an adult education secondary diploma upon completion of graduation requirements as defined in Rule 277-733, but may not apply for a previously issued HSE exam certificate to be converted to a Utah high school completion diploma.
(3) An individual who took and passed an approved HSE exam in the state of Utah between the dates of January 1, 2002 and June 30, 2009 may apply for a Utah high school completion diploma to replace the originally issued HSE exam certificate issued by the Board or they may enroll in an adult education program to complete the necessary requirements for an adult education secondary diploma.
R277-702-8. HSE Exam Security.
(1) The following individuals may have access to the HSE exam:
(a) Board staff approved by the Superintendent;
(b) Authorized test examiners;
(c) A contractor selected pursuant to Subsection R277-702-3(1)(a) and the contractor's agents;
(d) Approved exam candidates during exam administration; or
(e) An individual granted access in writing by the Superintendent.
(2) A test facilitator shall administer an HSE exam in strict accordance with procedures and guidelines specified by the Superintendent and the contractor approved in accordance with Subsection R277-702-3(1)(a).
(3) School staff members may not:
(a) provide a student directly or indirectly with specific questions or answers from any official HSE exam;
(b) allow a student access to any testing material, in any form, before test administration; or
(c) knowingly and intentionally do anything that would inappropriately affect the security, validity, or reliability of an exam score of any individual student or group taking an HSE exam.
(4) A licensed educator who intentionally violates this Section R277-702-8 may be subject to disciplinary action under Section 53E-6-604 and Rule R277-217.
KEY: adult education, educational testing, student competency
Date of Last Change: 2026[February 7, 2025] Notice of Continuation: September 3, 2026
