Utah

State Standards Analysis & Recommendations for Improvement


COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS


Readiness standards are published and promoted and describe the competencies students need to learn and possess for entry into and success in college and the workforce. They may or may not be assessed by the state but exist as guidance for educators and expectations for students.

Yes
Does the state define college and/or career readiness?
Yes
Does the state have career readiness standards?
Yes
Does the state report metrics related to college and/or career readiness?
Yes
Does the state include college/career readiness in its accountability formula?
Yes
Are students expected to demonstrate readiness for college and/or career upon graduation?
Yes
Are Durable Skills reflected in career readiness standards?
No
Does the state publish career readiness/employability skills standards?
Yes
Does the state have a complete framework for work-based learning?
Yes
Does the state define WBL?
Yes
Does the state have clear expectations for WBL programs?
Yes
Does the state have a WBL quality guide?
Yes
Does the state report on WBL participation and outcomes?
Yes
Does the state use WBL participation as a program quality indicator for Perkins V federal funding?
No
Does the state provide guidance related to career/employability skills?

WORK-BASED LEARNING (WBL)


Work-based learning describes comprehensive guidance, expectations for educators and employers, and quality indicators for assessment.

GRADUATE PROFILE


A graduate profile includes the competencies and skills a student possesses when they graduate from high school. They showcase student learning outcomes and present a full picture of a student’s abilities.

Yes
Does the state include career/workforce readiness in its graduation requirements?
No
Does the state outline a robust set of graduation requirements?
Policy Question Answer Additional Information
Does the state define college and/or career readiness? Yes

Yes, the state’s definition of college and/or career readiness is “Being ready for college means that – as you graduate from high school – you have the knowledge and skills necessary to qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses without the need for remedial coursework. Being ready for a career means that you graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills needed to qualify for and succeed in a career, or in the education and training that will take you to the next step in your chosen field.”

Does the state have career readiness standards? Yes

Yes.

CCR Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy

CCR Standards for Mathematics

Does the state report metrics related to college and/or career readiness? Yes

Yes, the state’s reported metrics related to college and/or career readiness include:

  • EOC assessments
  • AP scores, enrollment, and participation rate
  • ACT participation rate
  • Courses taken resulting in college credit (dual enrollment)
  • Number of concurrent enrollment courses taken
  • NAEP scores
  • Graduation rate
    – Other completers
    – Still enrolled
  • Utah higher education enrollments
  • Students assigned to developmental coursework in postsecondary education
  • First-year college GPA
  • Average number of credit hours completed in first year of postsecondary education
  • Persistence into second year of postsecondary education”
Does the state include college/career readiness in its accountability formula? Yes

Yes, find out more about college/career readiness in the state’s accountability formula here.

Are students expected to demonstrate readiness for college and/or career upon graduation? Yes

Yes, students are expected to demonstrate college and/or career readiness through:

  • Advanced Coursework Enrollment
  • Postsecondary Assessment (SAT/ACT/Other)
  • CTE Participation (CTE, WBL, Credential, Apprenticeship, Other)
Are Durable Skills reflected in career readiness standards? Yes

Yes. The following skills are reflected in Utah career readiness standards:

  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Metacognition
Does the state publish career readiness/employability skills standards? No
Policy Question Answer Additional Information
Does the state have a complete framework for work-based learning? Yes

Yes.

Does the state define WBL? Yes

Yes, the state’s definition for work-based learning is available here.

Does the state have clear expectations for WBL programs? Yes

Yes.

Does the state have a WBL quality guide? Yes

Yes, the state’s work-based learning quality guide can be found here.

Does the state report on WBL participation and outcomes? Yes

Yes, Utah students that participating in WBL are enrolled in courses with unique course codes, which then provide counts for participation. No outcome data appears to be reported.

Does the state use WBL participation as a program quality indicator for Perkins V federal funding? Yes

Yes, the state uses work-based learning participation as a program quality indicator for Perkins V federal funding. Learn more here.

Does the state provide guidance related to career/employability skills? No
Policy Question Answer Additional Information
Does the state include career/workforce readiness in its graduation requirements? Yes

Yes, the readiness requirements outlined by the state are completion of 1 credit in Career and Technical Education. Students demonstrate they’ve met these requirements via coursework. 

Does the state outline a robust set of graduation requirements? No