Utah Digital Learning Landscape
Utah Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP), a DLC State Affiliate, was instrumental in conducting the research for this profile.
| State virtual school? | NO |
| Multi-district fully online schools? | YES |
| Online learning requirement for graduation? | NO |
| State approval process for online providers? | YES |
| State approval process for online courses? | YES |
Utah has multi-district fully online schools and numerous districts offering online courses in addition to Utah’s Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) of approved providers. Fully online schools enrolled 23,984 students during the 2021-22 SY, a sharp increase from 13,941 in the 2020-21 SY and 6,660 in the 2019-20 SY. Fully online schools enrolled 24,036 students for fall 2022.
There are currently six approved SEOP providers as of fall 2022. Any LEA—charter or district—can apply to be an online provider. Providers must utilize only appropriately licensed Utah educators, and must maintain an 80% rate of timely completion.
SOEP is among the first and best-known course choice programs in the country. During the 2021-22 SY SOEP served 8,299 students in grades 7-12, with 32,370 half-credit enrollments. Students enrolling in middle school courses (grades 7-8) are limited to 2 credits online per year. Students in grades 7-12 enrolling in high school credit courses may take up to 6 online credits.
ASU Prep Digital is Utah’s first “direct-to-state” non-LEA provider as of SY 2022-23. Direct-to-state providers guarantee open-entry, open-exit online courses, Cognia accreditation, and NCAA course approval. All direct-to-state providers administer special education and other services similar to LEA providers. ASU Prep Digital also works with private schools in a hybrid environment.
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) provides an annual report on all providers outlining state assessment results and completion rates. Providers accommodate students with disabilities under the direction of a student’s primary LEA. Non-LEA providers must demonstrate similar capacities,and all providers utilize appropriately licensed Utah educators.
Online programs include the following:
Canyons Online is an online learning program that serves students from across the state of Utah in grades 9-12.
Mountain Heights Academy offers online courses for grades 7-12.
Success Academy Online is a tuition-free online charter school for grades 9-12.
Utah Online School (UOS) is a free public school open to all K-12 Utah students operated through the Washington County School District.
Utah Virtual Academy is an online charter school open to Utah students in grades K-12.
Utah Schools for the Deaf (USD) Online provides full- and part-time options specially designed classes to meet the unique language needs of deaf and hard of hearing students. Any student with a documented hearing loss, regardless of their home district, has access to USD Online courses.
Brigham Young University (BYU) runs the BYU Independent Study program, in which high school students may enroll on a private basis.
For details of online learning funding in this state see the DLC's report A Review of Online Learning Funding.
State Policies
In 2022, the Legislature passed HB 417, the “Online Course Access Amendments.” This law establishes a funding source to subsidize SOEP course access for K-12 schools with enrollment below 1,000 students serving grades 9 and above. This funding stream incentivizes smaller schools to publicize online options.
Historically, SB 226 (2021) established two separate approval processes: one process for LEA providers and one for non-LEA providers. It defines strict specifications on LEA and non-LEA course requirements for required courses to be consistent with Utah Core standards and meet accessibility requirements and NCAA standards.
Two other pieces of legislation related to online and/or blended learning were passed through April 2021. SB 234 allows the Statewide Online Education Program to offer courses for middle school credit beginning Jan. 1, 2022. SB226 establishes the requirements for the State Board of Education to approve certified online course providers; to create rules related to approving certified online course providers; and to set fees to cover the costs of regulating certified online course providers.
SB65 created SOEP (2011) and was amended with SB178 (2012). The program states that students and parents, including homeschooled and private students, can choose online courses and providers to supplement a brick-and-mortar education as long as the course aligns with the student’s Student Education Occupation Plan or Individualized Education Program. Subject mastery replaces seat time, allowing students to advance based on competency. Fees are tiered to the cost of course provision, and payment is tied to completion.
Provision of online coursework under SOEP is highly regulated and providers must meet mandatory minimums for student outcomes. Educator contact, consistency with Utah core standards, adequate support, documentation of activity, adherence to Special Education Law and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, identification of ML students and provision of materials for fee waiver eligible students are all mandated and monitored, in contrast to programs under LEA control which are not similarly regulated.