POLICY NUMBER:
600.01
ADOPTED:
5.19.2026
Board Policy
- The Board of Education believes setting high expectations for students will enable them to increase their capacities and further prepare them for college and career. The Board of Education acknowledges and accepts its duty to implement core standards for instruction and graduation requirements as outlined in Utah state law (See, Utah Code §53G-4-402). Specifically, the Board of Education claims and exercises its statutory authority to firmly establish high expectations that encourage course-taking patterns, programs of study, and additional credits beyond the State of Utah’s minimum requirements to encourage excellence and academic achievement.
- The Board of Education exercises its statutory authority to determine courses and programs of study eligible for credit towards graduation.
- To assist CSD High schools in meeting these objectives, the Board directs the District Administration to develop a Canyons School District High School Course Catalog and Credit Guidelines Handbook for use by school administrators, counselors, and other guidance personnel to supervise granting of credit, qualification for graduation, and course selection.
- The Board of Education authorizes the District Administration to develop Administrative Regulations consistent with this policy, subject to review and approval by the Board of Education.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.01-1
APPROVED:
5.19.2026
Graduation Requirements - 600.01-1
To graduate from a Canyons School District high school, a student must:
- Earn credits designated by the Utah State Board of Education and the Canyons District Board of Education.
- The Canyons School District Course Catalog contains a comprehensive list of courses offered across all Canyons high schools. Each high school also has a school-specific course catalog outlining the courses offered at that particular school.
- Complete all graduation requirements prior to October 1 of the school year following the student’s graduating year.
- Meeting graduation requirements entitles a student to receive a diploma but does not necessarily entitle a student to participate in commencement.
- Commencement exercises are under the direction of and administered by the local high school, with graduation dress and grooming standards outlined in Policy-500.02-Student Conduct and Disciplinary Process.
- Meet senior year residency requirements.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.01-2
APPROVED:
5.19.2026
Diplomas - 600.01-2
- Standard Diploma: A Canyons Standard Diploma is earned by completing all requirements set forth by the Utah State Board of Education and Canyons School District.
- Basic Diploma: This diploma is available for extenuating circumstances upon administrative approval. Students earning this diploma must complete all core curriculum credit requirements.
- Alternate Diploma: This diploma is available for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are still accessing core standards through the essential elements. Students earning this diploma must complete all core curriculum credit requirements or those substitutions, exemptions, and modifications currently allowable under the Utah State Special Education credit guidelines.
- Adult Diploma: Students who did not earn enough credits to graduate with their high school class cohort may enroll at Entrada High School to complete core credits requirements and earn an Adult High School Diploma.
- Certificate of Completion: A certificate may be awarded to a special education student who: (1) has completed the student’s senior year; (2) is exiting or aging out of the school system; and (3) has not met all state or District requirements for a diploma (e.g., Canyons Alternative Diploma; Canyons Standard Diploma) as determined by the IEP team.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.01-3
APPROVED:
5.19.2026
Earning Graduation Credit - 600.01-3
A unit of credit is earned for courses taken. Each high school offers courses aligned to graduation requirements. A student may earn credit through approved pathways designed to support timely progress towards graduation. Canyons School District complies with federal and state statute as well as rules set forth by the Utah High School Athletics Association and the National College Athletic Association where applicable. Canyons Credit Guidelines Handbook provides extensive details to support consistency in awarding credit in Canyons secondary schools.
Original Credit
Students earn original credit through successful completion of a course for the first time.
- Credit is awarded on the basis of a student’s participation, mastery of subject matter, and/or attainment of skills. Credit is granted for courses taken in grades 9-12.
- Canyons School District secondary schools will accept credit and grades awarded to a student by any public or private educational source that is accredited or recognized by the Utah State Board of Education, Cognia, or that is associated as a member of the International Council of School Accreditation Commissions. (Utah Admin. Code R277-705-3).
- Canyons School District will recognize high school credits earned in 6th -8th grades when courses are successfully completed and in compliance with Utah Administrative Code rule which requires the student has declared an intention to graduate early and the high school courses are not used to replace a middle school educational requirement.
- A student may test out of a course by demonstrating mastery of course standards via competency-based assessment. Competency-based assessments must be passed with at least 70% proficiency to earn credit. The course credit and a final grade of P (Pass) are recorded on the student’s transcript.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.01-4
APPROVED:
5.19.2026
Credit Recovery - 600.01-4
Credit recovery is the process for earning replacement credit for failed or incomplete courses in order to fulfill high school graduation requirements.
- If a student fails a course required for graduation they may recover the credit through completion of an approved credit recovery pathway.
- Credit Recovery Courses: Canyons School District will accept make-up credit awarded to a student by any public or private educational source that is accredited or recognized by the Utah State Board of Education, Cognia, or that is associated as a member of the International Council of School Accreditation Commissions.
- Diamond Ridge Independent Study Packet: Makeup credit is earned through a self-paced, independent study course that includes instructional materials and assessments that a student must complete in order to earn credit.
- Competency-based Assessment: A student may take a competency-based assessment to earn makeup credit. Competency-based assessments must be passed with at least 70% proficiency to earn credit.
- Credits attempted through credit recovery are awarded a pass/fail grade.
- Credit earned through credit recovery does not replace the original grade or change the Grade Point Average (GPA) on a student’s transcript.
- Credits recovered may be used to recalculate GPA in determining UHSAA eligibility in accordance with UHSAA Scholastic Rule, Section 8. This recalculation is for eligibility purposes only and does not change the original transcript.
- A student with significant deficits in core credits may earn a traditional high school diploma through a combination of continued school enrollment, instructional support, and demonstrated competency on the General Educational Development (GED) high school equivalency assessments, or the Focused Graduation Pathway, see Policy 600.07–Focused Graduation Pathway.
Students may improve their grade point average through grade replacement by retaking and completing the entire course. Grade replacement is distinct from credit recovery, which allows students to earn credit without repeating the full course. Upon successful completion of a repeated course, the higher grade will be used in GPA calculation and recorded on the transcript in the year the course is completed. The original course and grade are deleted from the transcript.
Forms
None
Document History
This online presentation is an electronic representation of the Canyons School District’s currently adopted policy manual. It does not reflect updating activities in progress. The official, authoritative manual is available for inspection in the office of the Superintendent located at 9361 South 300 East Sandy, UT 84070.
