SF 302 (LSB 2084XS (2) 90)

SENATE FILE 302

BY  DRISCOLL

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to student chronic absenteeism in open enrollment and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 282.18, Code 2023, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  11A.  a.  If a pupil participating in open enrollment under this section exhibits chronic absenteeism in the receiving school district, the receiving school district may, following written notice to the pupil’s parent or guardian and an attempt to remedy the chronic absences through agreement with the parent or guardian, revoke the pupil’s open enrollment in the school district and direct the pupil to enroll in the school district of residence. In order to minimize additional disruption to the pupil’s academic progress, a revocation shall occur as close as possible to the conclusion of a semester or other applicable grading period. If a pupil’s open enrollment is revoked under this subsection and the pupil enrolls in the district of residence for the remainder of the school year, the receiving district shall pay to the district of residence the prorated amount of the amount paid to the receiving district under subsection 5 or 6 that corresponds to the remaining portion of the school year.
   b.  For purposes of this subsection, “chronic absenteeism” means missing all or a portion of at least ten percent of school days for two or more consecutive grading periods, each grading period consisting of not less than nine weeks.
    Sec. 2.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2023.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill amends Code section 282.18 relating to student open enrollment. Under the bill, if a pupil participating in open enrollment exhibits chronic absenteeism in the receiving school district, the receiving school district may, following written notice to the pupil’s parent or guardian and an attempt to remedy the chronic absences through agreement with the parent or guardian, revoke the pupil’s open enrollment in the school district and direct the pupil to enroll in the school district of residence. The bill defines “chronic absenteeism” to mean missing all or a portion of at least 10 percent of school days for two or more consecutive grading periods, each grading period consisting of not less than nine weeks.
   Code section 282.18(13) provides that the director of the department of education shall recommend rules to the state board of education for the orderly implementation of the open enrollment law and requires the state board to adopt rules as needed for the implementation of the open enrollment law.