(1) A secondary public school student who has completed all required courses or demonstrated mastery of required skills and competencies may graduate at any time with the approval of: (a) the student; (b) the student's parent; and (c) a local school official who is authorized by the school's principal or director to approve early graduation.

(a) the student;

(b) the student's parent; and

(c) a local school official who is authorized by the school's principal or director to approve early graduation.

(2) The state board shall make a payment to a public high school in an amount equal to 1/2 of the scholarship awarded to each student under this section who graduates from the school at or before the conclusion of grade 11, or a proportionately lesser amount for a student who graduates after the conclusion of grade 11 but before the conclusion of grade 12.

(3) (a) The state board shall award to each student who graduates from high school at or before the conclusion of grade 11 a centennial scholarship in the amount of the greater of 30% of the previous year's value of the weighted pupil unit or $1,000, subject to this Subsection (3) through Subsection (6). (b) A student who is awarded a centennial scholarship may use the scholarship for full time enrollment at: (i) a Utah public college, university, or community college; (ii) a technical college described in Section 53B-2a-105; or (iii) any other institution in the state of Utah that: (A) is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the State Board of Regents; and (B) offers postsecondary courses of the student's choice. (c) Before making a payment of a centennial scholarship, the state board shall verify that the student has registered at an institution described in Subsection (3)(b): (i) during the fiscal year following the student's graduation from high school; or (ii) at the end of the student's deferral period, in accordance with Subsection (4). (d) If a student graduates after the conclusion of grade 11 but before the conclusion of grade 12, the state board shall award the student a centennial scholarship of a proportionately lesser amount than the scholarship amount described in Subsection (3)(a).

(a) The state board shall award to each student who graduates from high school at or before the conclusion of grade 11 a centennial scholarship in the amount of the greater of 30% of the previous year's value of the weighted pupil unit or $1,000, subject to this Subsection (3) through Subsection (6).

(b) A student who is awarded a centennial scholarship may use the scholarship for full time enrollment at: (i) a Utah public college, university, or community college; (ii) a technical college described in Section 53B-2a-105; or (iii) any other institution in the state of Utah that: (A) is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the State Board of Regents; and (B) offers postsecondary courses of the student's choice.

(i) a Utah public college, university, or community college;

(ii) a technical college described in Section 53B-2a-105; or

(iii) any other institution in the state of Utah that: (A) is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the State Board of Regents; and (B) offers postsecondary courses of the student's choice.

(A) is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the State Board of Regents; and

(B) offers postsecondary courses of the student's choice.

(c) Before making a payment of a centennial scholarship, the state board shall verify that the student has registered at an institution described in Subsection (3)(b): (i) during the fiscal year following the student's graduation from high school; or (ii) at the end of the student's deferral period, in accordance with Subsection (4).

(i) during the fiscal year following the student's graduation from high school; or

(ii) at the end of the student's deferral period, in accordance with Subsection (4).

(d) If a student graduates after the conclusion of grade 11 but before the conclusion of grade 12, the state board shall award the student a centennial scholarship of a proportionately lesser amount than the scholarship amount described in Subsection (3)(a).

(4) (a) A student who is eligible for a centennial scholarship under Subsection (3) may make a request to the state board that the state board defer consideration of the student for the scholarship for a set period of time. (b) A student who makes a request under Subsection (4)(a) shall state in the request the reason for which the student wishes not to be considered for the scholarship until the end of the deferral period, which may include: (i) health reasons; (ii) religious reasons; (iii) military service; or (iv) humanitarian service. (c) If a student makes a request under Subsection (4)(a), the state board shall: (i) (A) review the student's request; and (B) approve or reject the student's request; and (ii) if the state board approves the student's request, in consultation with the student, set the length of the deferral period, ensuring that the deferral period is sufficient to meet the student's needs under Subsection (4)(b). (d) At the end of the deferral period, and upon request of the student, the state board shall: (i) determine a student to be eligible for the scholarship if the student was eligible at the time of the student's request for deferral; and (ii) if found eligible, make a payment to the student in an amount equal to the amount described in Subsection (4)(e). (e) The amount of a student's deferred scholarship payment shall be determined by the state board based on the amount of the scholarship the student would have been entitled to as described in Subsection (3) and based on the fiscal year prior to the student's request for deferral.

(a) A student who is eligible for a centennial scholarship under Subsection (3) may make a request to the state board that the state board defer consideration of the student for the scholarship for a set period of time.

(b) A student who makes a request under Subsection (4)(a) shall state in the request the reason for which the student wishes not to be considered for the scholarship until the end of the deferral period, which may include: (i) health reasons; (ii) religious reasons; (iii) military service; or (iv) humanitarian service.

(i) health reasons;

(ii) religious reasons;

(iii) military service; or

(iv) humanitarian service.

(c) If a student makes a request under Subsection (4)(a), the state board shall: (i) (A) review the student's request; and (B) approve or reject the student's request; and (ii) if the state board approves the student's request, in consultation with the student, set the length of the deferral period, ensuring that the deferral period is sufficient to meet the student's needs under Subsection (4)(b).

(i) (A) review the student's request; and (B) approve or reject the student's request; and

(A) review the student's request; and

(B) approve or reject the student's request; and

(ii) if the state board approves the student's request, in consultation with the student, set the length of the deferral period, ensuring that the deferral period is sufficient to meet the student's needs under Subsection (4)(b).

(d) At the end of the deferral period, and upon request of the student, the state board shall: (i) determine a student to be eligible for the scholarship if the student was eligible at the time of the student's request for deferral; and (ii) if found eligible, make a payment to the student in an amount equal to the amount described in Subsection (4)(e).

(i) determine a student to be eligible for the scholarship if the student was eligible at the time of the student's request for deferral; and

(ii) if found eligible, make a payment to the student in an amount equal to the amount described in Subsection (4)(e).

(e) The amount of a student's deferred scholarship payment shall be determined by the state board based on the amount of the scholarship the student would have been entitled to as described in Subsection (3) and based on the fiscal year prior to the student's request for deferral.

(5) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the state board: (a) shall make the payments authorized in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) during the fiscal year that follows the student's graduation; and (b) may make the payments authorized in Subsection (3)(b) during the fiscal year: (i) in which the student graduates; or (ii) following the student's graduation.

(a) shall make the payments authorized in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) during the fiscal year that follows the student's graduation; and

(b) may make the payments authorized in Subsection (3)(b) during the fiscal year: (i) in which the student graduates; or (ii) following the student's graduation.

(i) in which the student graduates; or

(ii) following the student's graduation.

(6) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall adjust the appropriation for the Centennial Scholarship Program based on: (a) the anticipated increase of students awarded a centennial scholarship; and (b) the percent increase of the prior year's weighted pupil unit value, as provided in Subsection (3).

(a) the anticipated increase of students awarded a centennial scholarship; and

(b) the percent increase of the prior year's weighted pupil unit value, as provided in Subsection (3).