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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 2196

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

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.


















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