House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

Posted:	May 6, 2015 11:31 AM
From:	Representative W. Curtis Thomas
To:	All House members
Subject:	Private Academic School Transcripts

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would amend the Public School Code to require Private Academic Schools to archive the academic transcripts of graduates with the Department of Education. While this language already is a part of the regulations, it is not included in the code itself. As a result a number of Private Academic Schools did not comply. A list obtained from the Department of Education is attached that lists disposition of records for closed Private Academic Schools and further illustrates the need for this legislation. I was approached by a constituent who needed a high school transcript to purse a postsecondary educational opportunity but, because the transcript was held by a private academic school that had closed without archiving records, was unable to obtain a copy. Without the transcript, this individual would have had to access and pass a Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) test to pursue a post-secondary educational opportunity. Students who have successfully matriculated should not be faced with the need to obtain a GED or high school equivalency. This legislation will ensure the protection of academic records of those who graduated from a closed Private Academic School. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation.
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Introduced as HB1434