This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

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State Policies in Utah  

Utah does not have a state acceleration policy. LEA's make acceleration decisions.

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergartenState policy does not permit. Children must be 5 by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten.

The Utah State Office of Education Preschool and Kindergarten websites have a plethora of resources for parents of preschool and kindergarten students.

Early entrance to 1st gradeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.
Whole-grade acceleration

Gifted programming is determined at the district level, but the Utah State Office of Education outlined 5 essential components of a gifted program that include providing content differentiation ("depth, complexity, and acceleration") and appropriate pacing to meet the needs of high ability students. See the USOE Gifted and Talented site for handbook and additional information about identification and programming

Early high school graduation

State policy specifically permits early graduation. UT Code 53F-5-501 gives more information on graduation requirements. 

Utah's Early Graduation Centennial Scholarship Program provides tuition scholarships for students who complete high school early.

Early entrance to collegeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or university

State policy specifically permits. Information on Concurrent Enrollment and Early College can be found here.

SUCCESS Academy is an early college high school in Utah.

Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

State policy leaves LEA to determine whether dual enrollment in middle and high school is permitted.
Advanced Placement®State policy permits. Visit Utah's Office of Education website for more Advanced Placement information.
Talent Search

There is no in-state Talent Search for Utah, but gifted students in UT can participate in regional and national talent searches, including those offered by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center.

Credit by examination/proficiency-based promotion

State policy specifically permits. The state specifies 2 methods of demonstrating proficiency: multiple choice test and end of course assessment. Each LEA is responsible for determining advancement options after students demonstrate proficiency, and state policy allows students to receive graduation credits for proficiency.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

Typically left to LEAs to determine. If you know of state-level code, please e-mail us.

Additional Information

Utah Department of Education Gifted
Utah Department of Education
Utah Association for Gifted Children

The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education 2020-2021 (a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children), Websites, professional literature, and personal communication. The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.