PRINTER'S NO. 2196
No. 1729 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, DeWEESE, MUNDY, GRUCELA, E. Z. TAYLOR, STURLA, LEACH, CREIGHTON, BAKER, BELFANTI, BIANCUCCI, CALTAGIRONE, CRAHALLA, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GOODMAN, JAMES, JOSEPHS, LEDERER, MANN, McGEEHAN, THOMAS, TIGUE, WATERS, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 14, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 14, 2005
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 2 act relating to the public school system, including certain 3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 5 laws relating thereto," requiring all public school districts 6 in this Commonwealth to conduct exit interviews for all 7 students who withdraw from school. 8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 9 hereby enacts as follows: 10 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known 11 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a 12 section to read: 13 Section 1354.1. Exit Interviews for Withdrawing Students.-- 14 (a) It shall be the duty of every superintendent to conduct or 15 order an exit interview for each student who withdraws from that 16 school district. If the student is between fourteen (14) and 17 sixteen (16) years of age and legally withdrawing, the interview 18 must be done in conjunction with the verification of any work or 19 farm permit as provided in section 1330. If the student is not
1 in compliance with the compulsory school attendance laws and has 2 been absent without excuse for more than three (3) days, an 3 interview must be conducted that further inquires as to why the 4 student is absent or dropping out. 5 (b) Any parent or guardian of a student between eight (8) 6 and seventeen (17) years of age who is absent for a period 7 exceeding three (3) days and that absence is unexcused will 8 complete an exit interview on behalf of the student if, and only 9 if, the student fails to complete the interview first. The 10 interview may be conducted in person or via the telephone at a 11 time most accommodating for both parties. Failure of a parent or 12 guardian to complete an exit interview on behalf of their child 13 is a violation of this section and the school district may 14 impose a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50) to be used by the 15 school district to find the student and complete the student's 16 records. 17 (c) The Department of Education shall establish and 18 distribute a standard form to be completed by a school 19 superintendent during an exit interview. The form shall require 20 the following minimum information: name, address, telephone 21 number, date of birth, most current student identification 22 number, current grade level, school name and district, reason 23 for withdrawing and name, address, and telephone number of a 24 parent or guardian. These forms must be filed with the 25 Department of Education within fifteen (15) days following the 26 exit interview. The data collected from the exit interviews, 27 excluding specific names and addresses and ID's, will be used in 28 conjunction with the Electronic Dropout/Graduate Report (EDGR), 29 a data reporting system or a report of equivalence compiled and 30 distributed by the Division of Data Services of the Department 20050H1729B2196 - 2 -
1 of Education. In addition, the information shall be made part of 2 the student's permanent record. The report must be made public 3 at the end of each fiscal year. 4 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. F9L24BIL/20050H1729B2196 - 3 -