Utah high school students likely soon will have fewer concurrent enrollment classes from which to choose.

The Senate and House have passed SB81, a bill changing a state program that enables high school students to take classes for which they earn both high school and college credit.

Under the bill, concurrent enrollment will no longer include high school classes typically offered in ninth or 10th grade, effectively ending concurrent enrollment classes such as computer essentials and marriage and family. Those classes would still be offered in high school but students would no longer be able earn college credit for taking them.

More than 6,000 students took those two classes last year, according to the Utah System of Higher Education, which supports the bill. Other nonacademic classes might also be cut.

"If we're offering a concurrent enrollment course we want to make sure it is in fact a college-level course," said House bill sponsor Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem.

The bill, if signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., would also require all high school students to take a test before enrolling in math and English concurrent enrollment classes and would change how the state funds the program. Bill sponsor Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, has said the changes are a way to maintain the program's quality in tight budget times.

The bill passed 73-0 in the House on Thursday with minor changes that the Senate agreed to Friday by a 21-2 vote.