UT SB0168

Eligible students (grades 9-12 experiencing homelessness or in child welfare system) must be offered diplomas based on state baseline graduation standards, with LEAs prohibited from imposing additional local requirements that would prevent graduation within four years

LEAs must accept full or partial credits from previous schools, distance learning, mental health facilities, juvenile detention, and other programs, and cannot require seat time if students demonstrate course mastery

Students transferring after grade 10 are exempt from requirements exceeding state baseline standards; if transferring during grades 11-12 and unable to meet new LEA requirements, the previous LEA must award the diploma

Disciplinary protections require LEAs to presume behavior is caused by student circumstances, involve McKinney-Vento liaisons or caseworkers before removals exceeding one day, and prohibit suspension/expulsion unless behavior is determined unrelated to circumstances

LEAs must provide personal graduation plans reviewed each semester, access to tutoring and credit recovery at nominal/no cost, career pathway programs, annual staff training, and designated school points of contact for eligible students; effective July 1, 2026