Chapter 407
AN ACT
HB 2606
Relating to education; creating new provisions; amending ORS 329.451,
339.030, 339.505 and 345.505 and section 3, chapter 827, Oregon Laws 2005; and
declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of
the State of
SECTION 1. ORS 329.451 is amended to read:
329.451. (1) In order to
receive a high school diploma from a school district, a student must meet the
requirements established by the State Board of Education and the school
district and, while in grades 9 through 12, must complete:
(a) At least 24 [credit hours] credits, as defined
by rule of the board;
(b) Three [years] credits of mathematics;
and
(c) Four [years] credits of English.
(2) Notwithstanding
subsection (1) of this section, a school district may award a diploma to a
student who does not [meet] satisfy
the requirements of subsection (1)(b) or (c) of this
section if the student:
(a) Has met or exceeded
the academic content standards for mathematics or English established by the board;
or
(b) Displays proficiency
in mathematics or English at a level established by the board.
(3) A student may
satisfy the requirements of subsection (1) of this section in less than four
years. If a student satisfies the requirements of subsection (1) of this
section and a school district has the consent of the
student’s parent or guardian, the school district shall award a diploma to the
student upon request from the student.
(4) If a school district
has the consent of a student’s parent or guardian, the school district may
advance the student to the next grade level if the student has satisfied the
requirements for the student’s current grade level.
(5) The requirement for
obtaining the consent of a student’s parent or guardian under subsections (3)
and (4) of this section does not apply to a student who is:
(a) Emancipated pursuant
to ORS 419B.550 to 419B.558; or
(b) 18
years of age or older.
SECTION 2. Section 3, chapter 827, Oregon Laws 2005, is
amended to read:
Sec.
3. (1) The requirements of [section 1 of this 2005 Act] ORS 329.451 (1) and (2) apply to
students who receive a high school diploma from a school district on or after
July 1, 2009.
(2) ORS 329.451 (3)
applies to students who satisfy the requirements for a high school diploma on
or after the effective date of this 2007 Act.
(3) ORS 329.451 (4)
first applies to the 2007-2008 school year.
SECTION 3. ORS 339.030 is amended to read:
339.030. (1) In the following cases, children [shall] may not be required to attend public full-time
schools:
(a) Children being
taught in a private or parochial school in the courses of study usually taught
in grades 1 through 12 in the public schools and in attendance for a period
equivalent to that required of children attending public schools in the
1994-1995 school year.
(b) Children proving to
the satisfaction of the district school board that they have acquired
equivalent knowledge to that acquired in the courses of study taught in grades
1 through 12 in the public schools.
(c) Children who have
received a high school diploma.
[(c)] (d) Children being taught for a period equivalent to
that required of children attending public schools by a private teacher the
courses of study usually taught in grades 1 through 12 in the public school.
[(d)] (e) Children being educated in
the children’s home by a parent or legal guardian.
[(e)] (f) Children excluded from attendance as provided by
law.
(2) The State Board of
Education by rule shall establish procedures whereby, on a semiannual basis, an
exemption from compulsory attendance may be granted to the parent or legal
guardian of any child 16 or 17 years of age who is lawfully employed full-time,
lawfully employed part-time and enrolled in school, a community college or an
alternative education program as defined in ORS 336.615. An exemption also may
be granted to any child who is an emancipated minor or who has initiated the
procedure for emancipation under ORS 419B.550 to 419B.558.
SECTION 4. ORS 339.505 is amended to read:
339.505. (1) For purposes of the student accounting system required by
ORS 339.515, the following definitions shall be used:
(a) “Graduate” means an
individual who has:
(A) Not reached 21 years
of age or whose 21st birthday occurs during the current school year;
(B) Met all state
requirements and local requirements for attendance, competence and units of
credit for high school; and
(C) Received one of the
following:
(i) A high school
diploma issued by a school district.
(ii) An adult high
school diploma issued by an authorized community college.
(iii) A modified high
school diploma based on the successful completion of an individual education
plan.
(b) “School dropout”
means an individual who:
(A) Has enrolled for the
current school year, or was enrolled in the previous school year and did not
attend during the current school year;
(B) Is
not a high school graduate;
(C) Has not received a
General Educational Development (GED) certificate; and
(D) Has withdrawn from
school.
(c) “School dropout”
does not include a student described by at least one of the following:
(A) A student who has
transferred to another educational system or institution that leads to
graduation and the school district has received a written request for the
transfer of the student’s records or transcripts.
(B) A student who is
deceased.
(C) A student who is
participating in home instruction paid for by the district.
(D) A student who is
being taught by a private teacher, parent or legal guardian pursuant to ORS
339.030 [(1)(c)
or (d)] (1)(d) or (e).
(E) A student who is
participating in a Department of Education approved public or private education
program, an alternative education program as defined in ORS 336.615 or a
hospital education program, or is residing in a Department of Human Services facility.
(F) A student who is
temporarily residing in a shelter care program certified by the Oregon Youth
Authority or the Department of Human Services or in a juvenile detention
facility.
(G) A student who is
enrolled in a foreign exchange program.
(H) A student who is
temporarily absent from school because of suspension, a family emergency, or
severe health or medical problems that prohibit the student from attending
school.
(I) A
student who has received a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
(2) The State Board of
Education shall prescribe by rule when an unexplained absence becomes
withdrawal, when a student is considered enrolled in school, acceptable
alternative education programs under ORS 336.615 to 336.665 and the standards
for excused absences for purposes of ORS 339.065 for family emergencies and
health and medical problems.
SECTION 5. ORS 345.505 is amended to read:
345.505. As used in ORS
345.505 to 345.575 unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) “Educational
services” means instructional programs but does not include programs limited
solely to dancing, drama, music, religious or athletic instruction.
(2) “Private school”
means a private elementary or secondary school operated by a person or by a
private agency except as provided in ORS 339.030 [(1)(c) or (d)] (1)(d) or (e), offering education in
prekindergarten, kindergarten, or grades 1 through 12 or any part thereof.
SECTION 6. The amendments to ORS 339.030, 339.505 and
345.505 by sections 3 to 5 of this 2007 Act first apply to the 2007-2008 school
year.
SECTION 7. This 2007 Act being necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is
declared to exist, and this 2007 Act takes effect July 1, 2007.
Approved by the Governor June 13, 2007
Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 13, 2007
Effective date July 1, 2007
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