SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6022

BYSenator Conner

Establishing an enrollment options program for school districts.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 1, 1989

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

AS OF MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Open enrollment programs, where parents or guardians can choose which district their child attends, have recently been tried by some states.  These programs are designed to increase parents' choices about what schools their children attend.

SUMMARY:

An open enrollment program is established.  School district boards of directors may voluntarily choose to participate.  The program is designed to permit any student to attend a school or program in a district in which the student does not reside subject to certain limitations.  Some of the limitations include: (1) agreement by the district to participate; (2) student/parent application deadlines;  (3) complying with local standards adopted by the board; and (4) effect on a desegregation plan. Credits toward graduation awarded by another district shall be accepted by a nonresident district. 

Provisions are made for reimbursement of transportation costs to the nonresident district by a nonresident district for families living in poverty and for provision of transportation services within the boundaries of the nonresident district.

For allocation purposes, students are counted in the districts in which they attend school.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested