{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-53g-6-502","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 53G-6-502","heading":"Eligible students.","body":"(1) As used in this section:\n(a) \"At capacity\" means operating above the school's open enrollment threshold.\n(b) \"Open enrollment threshold\" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-6-401.\n(c) \"Refugee\" means a person who is eligible to receive benefits and services from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.\n(d) \"School of residence\" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-6-401.\n(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 53G-6-503.\n(3)\n(a) A charter school shall enroll:\n(i) a foster child residing in the same residence as an individual who is enrolled in the charter school; and\n(ii) an eligible student other than a child described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) who submits a timely application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or the charter school.\n(b) If the number of applications described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii) exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or the charter school, the charter school shall select students on a random basis, except as provided in Subsections (4) through (8).\n(4) A charter school may give an enrollment preference to:\n(a) a child or grandchild of an individual who has actively participated in the development of the charter school;\n(b) a child or grandchild of a member of the charter school governing board;\n(c) a sibling of an individual who was previously or is presently enrolled in the charter school;\n(d) a child of an employee of the charter school;\n(e) a student articulating between charter schools offering similar programs that are governed by the same charter school governing board;\n(f) a student 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;\n(g) an individual seeking enrollment in a charter school if:\n(i) the individual's sibling is a student enrolled in a charter school; and\n(ii) the charter school where the individual is seeking enrollment has an articulation agreement with the charter school where the sibling is enrolled that the State Charter School Board approves;\n(h) a student who resides within up to a two-mile radius of the charter school and whose school of residence is at capacity;\n(i) a student who resides within the boundaries of a political subdivision containing the charter school and whose school of residence is at capacity;\n(j) a child of a military service member; or\n(k) a child of a DOD civilian.\n(5)\n(a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), and notwithstanding Subsection (4)(h), a charter school that is approved by the state board after May 13, 2014, and is located in a high growth area as defined in Section 53G-6-504 shall give an enrollment preference to a student who resides within a two-mile radius of the charter school.\n(b) The requirement to give an enrollment preference under Subsection (5)(a) does not apply to a charter school that was approved without a high priority status pursuant to Subsection 53G-6-504(7)(b).\n(6) 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.\n(7)\n(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.\n(b) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for English language learners may give an enrollment preference to English language learners.\n(8) A charter school may weight the charter school's lottery to give a slightly better chance of admission to educationally disadvantaged students, including:\n(a) low-income students;\n(b) students with disabilities;\n(c) English language learners;\n(d) migrant students;\n(e) neglected or delinquent students; and\n(f) homeless students.\n(9) A charter school may not discriminate in the charter school's admission policies or practices on the same basis as other public schools may not discriminate in admission policies and practices.","path":["Title 53G Public Education System -- Local Administration","Chapter 53G-6 Participation in Public Schools","Part 53G-6-5 Charter School Enrollment"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53G/Chapter6/53G-6-S502.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:33Z","sha256":"78353601a4fad5f017a65d41bb6752337c85b417da6a3e433d54bba0b4013ff3","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-53g-6-501","next":"us-ut/utah-code-53g-6-503"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}