2012 Utah Code
Title 53A - State System of Public Education
Article 1a - Utah Strategic Planning Act for Educational Excellence
Section 506 - Eligible students.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board elected pursuant to Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School Boards.

(b) "Refugee" means a person who is eligible to receive benefits and services from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.

(2) All resident students of the state qualify for admission to a charter school, subject to the limitations set forth in this section and Section 53A-1a-506.5.

(3) (a) A charter school shall enroll an eligible student who submits a timely application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or the charter school.

(b) If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or the charter school, students shall be selected on a random basis, except as provided in Subsections (4) through (6).

(4) A charter school may give an enrollment preference to:

(a) a student of a parent who has actively participated in the development of the charter school;

(b) siblings of students presently enrolled in the charter school;

(c) a student of a parent who is employed by the charter school;

(d) students articulating between charter schools offering similar programs that are governed by the same governing body;

(e) students articulating from one charter school to another pursuant to an articulation agreement between the charter schools that is approved by the State Charter School Board; or

(f) students who reside within:

(i) the school district in which the charter school is located;

(ii) the municipality in which the charter school is located; or

(iii) a two-mile radius from the charter school.

(5) If a district school converts to charter status, the charter school shall give an enrollment preference to students who would have otherwise attended it as a district school.

(6) (a) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for refugees or children of refugee families may give an enrollment preference to refugees or children of refugee families.

(b) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for English language learners may give an enrollment preference to English language learners.

(7) A charter school may not discriminate in its admission policies or practices on the same basis as other public schools may not discriminate in their admission policies and practices.

Amended by Chapter 278, 2013 General Session