Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 5, 2018 12:44 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Will Tallman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Fostering Graduation Success for Vulnerable Students |
| I plan to introduce legislation that will amend the Public School Code to provide our most vulnerable students a smooth transition to a new school and stay on track to graduate. Youth who change schools because they are in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or in the juvenile justice system face unique challenges to earning a diploma. These students are often unable to graduate because: they changed schools mid-year before earning full credit; their new school may not honor credits earned; or they didn’t have the opportunity to take a course that is a graduation requirement of the school they attended previously. Specifically, this bill designates a point of contact to ease their integration into the new school setting. The point of contact will work with the student and the student’s caregiver to determine appropriate classes, connect the student to a full range of educational opportunities in the new school, and document what academic credits the student previously earned as well as which credit the student still needs to graduate. The bill specifies that the new school must either accept credits earned previously and/or provide these students a chance to make up missing credits or have certain requirements waived. For those students who meet state standards but are unable to satisfy school district graduation requirements due to changing schools, the bill provides a state-issued diploma option. Finally, the bill ensures that students are not penalized for failing to comply with dress code or uniform violations related to delays in obtaining appropriate attire due to their mobility and provides equal access to extra curriculars and other programming. This will be very similar to the changes we have made for the Military kids. Please join me in co-sponsoring this crucial piece of legislation to provide our students a smooth transition to a new school and stay on track to secondary graduation. |
Introduced as HB2573