Date: September 18, 2026
To: Secondary administrators
From: Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director
Teaching & Learning
Subject: Information about class taking patterns
Summary:
Utah schools are committed to providing students with broad and equitable access to educational opportunities. Utah Administrative Rule R277-707 specifically provides that schools may consider academic readiness but may not require students to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The rule also prohibits schools from using grades, assessment scores, grade level, teacher referral, or participation in an honors or college-preparatory course to deny access to these programs.
This restriction applies specifically to accelerated academic programs, but it demonstrates that students’ opportunity to participate should not depend only on having completed a specific prior course.
Some courses are intentionally sequential because the content builds from one course or grade level to the next (e.g., Secondary Math I, II, III). Other specialized courses—particularly advanced performing ensembles—may require students to demonstrate that they have the skills needed to participate successfully. An audition or skills demonstration is different from a prerequisite course.
A prerequisite requires a student to have enrolled in or completed a particular course. An audition assesses the student’s current skill level and readiness, regardless of how the student developed those skills.
Auditions may be appropriate for advanced orchestra, band, choir, dance, theatre, or other performance-based courses in which students must work together at a particular level. An audition may evaluate:
- Current musical, technical, or performance skills
- Readiness for the rigor and pace of the course
- Ability to perform the literature, repertoire, or skills required
- Ensemble balance or instrumentation needs
- Safety considerations associated with the activity
A student should not be required to complete a particular previous course before auditioning. Students may develop the necessary skills through school courses, private instruction, community programs, independent study, or personal experience.
To support equitable access, an audition or skills-based placement process should:
- Be open to all otherwise eligible students
- Measure skills directly related to the course
- Use clearly communicated and consistently applied criteria
- Provide appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities
- Avoid criteria based primarily on prior enrollment, teacher recommendation, or access to private instruction
- Provide students with placement information and, when possible, guidance about other opportunities for continued growth
The purpose of an audition is not to restrict access. It is to place students in an instructional setting where they can participate meaningfully, develop their skills, and contribute successfully to the ensemble or program.
Rationale:
Utah administrative rule R277-705 and R277-707-4
Keywords:
Audition, prerequisite, course sequence
