Property Damage by Students and Associated Penalties.
If school property, or property belonging to a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student, has been lost or willfully cut, defaced, or injured, the school district may withhold the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the student responsible for the damage or loss until the student or the student's parent or guardian has paid for the damages.
If the student is suspended, the student may not be readmitted to the school until the student or the student's parent or guardian has made payment in full or until directed by the superintendent of schools.
A student who is suspended for damaging a district or contracted school bus may not enter or ride any school bus until the student or the student's parent or guardian has paid in full for the damages or until directed by the superintendent.
If the student and the student's parent or guardian are unable to pay for the damages, the school district must provide a program of voluntary work for the student in lieu of the payment of monetary damages. Upon completion of the voluntary work, the student's grades, diploma, and transcripts must be released. The student's parent or guardian is liable for damages as otherwise provided by law.
School districts may not assess penalties on a student for damaging school property, or property belonging to a contractor, an employee, or another student, until the board of directors has adopted policies to ensure the protection of students' due process rights.
Enrolling Students in Different Districts—Withholding Transcripts.
If a student who is enrolling in a different school has not paid a fine or fee for defacing or injuring school property, or tuition, fees, or fines at an approved private school, the sending school may withhold the student's official transcript. The sending school, however, must transmit information about the student's academic performance, special placement, immunization records, records of disciplinary action, and history of violent behavior or other specified offense.
If the official transcript is withheld because of unpaid tuition, fees, or fines, the enrolling school must notify both the student and parent or guardian that the official transcript will not be sent until the financial obligation is met, and that failure to have an official transcript may result in failure to graduate or exclusion from extracurricular activities.
Property Damage by Students and Associated Penalties.
A school district may only withhold the diploma, not the grades or transcript, of a student who is responsible for damaging school property, or property belonging to a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student.
School and school bus readmittance requirements are modified. The requirement that prohibits school districts from readmitting suspended students until the student or the student's parent or guardian has made payment in full for the damages, or until directed by the superintendent of schools, is repealed. Provisions barring students who have damaged a district or contracted school bus from entering or riding any school bus until the student or the student's parent or guardian has paid in full for the damages, or until directed by the superintendent, are also repealed.
Requirements for school district penalty policies related to student property damage are modified. School districts may not withhold a student's diploma for damaging school property or property belonging to a contractor, an employee, or another student, until the board of directors has adopted policies to ensure the protection of students' due process rights.
Terminology changes are made. Statutory references to "pupil" are changed to "student," and references to "voluntary work" are changed to "community service."
Enrolling Students in Different Districts—Withholding Transcripts.
Public and private schools may no longer withhold a transferring student's official transcript due to: an unpaid fine or fee for damaging school property or property belonging to other specified parties; or unpaid tuition, fees, or fines at an approved private school.
Posting Data on Withheld Diplomas.
School districts that withhold diplomas from students because of unpaid penalties for property that was damaged or lost by a student must post information on their websites indicating:
In publishing this data, school districts must, to the extent practicable, publish the information with information published under other specified requirements.
The substitute bill makes the following changes to the original bill:
(In support) This bill has been before the committee previously and has passed out of the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. This is an access and equity bill, and its supporters want to ensure that students can access higher education and earn a family wage. Lawmakers know that student discipline is often disproportionate. Lawmakers also want students to pay debts for property damage, but still allow them to earn a family wage.
Discrimination is a pillar of white supremacy. Current provisions allow children to be held for ransom because of property damage. The bill should be amended to prohibit the withholding of diplomas.
Fines and fees are a source of stress for many students and some become discouraged and cannot repay the penalties. This bill addresses equity issues, and barriers to success should be removed.
The withholding of transcripts primarily affects low-income students and disproportionally affects students of color. The fine and fee barrier does not exist for families of means. Transcripts are withheld for minor offenses and this creates a barrier to future success. This bill allows districts to retain restitution options.
The inability to attain a high school transcript is a significant barrier to an adult earning a diploma. This bill will allow adults to earn diplomas more quickly.
(Opposed) None.