75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 1142
 
                         House Bill 2378
 
Sponsored by Representative TOMEI (Presession filed.)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Lowers minimum age for required school attendance.
  Directs State Board of Education to adopt rules ensuring that
child beginning public school for first time be placed, in
consultation with child's parent or legal guardian, in grade
level appropriate for child's development.
  Requires board to establish by rule procedures whereby
exemption from compulsory attendance may be granted to parent or
legal guardian of child who is six years of age.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to school attendance; creating new provisions; and
  amending ORS 339.010, 339.020 and 339.030.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 339.010 is amended to read:
  339.010. Except as provided in ORS 339.030, all children
between the ages of   { - 7 - }   { + 6 + } and 18 years who have
not completed the 12th grade are required to attend regularly a
public full-time school of the school district in which the child
resides.
  SECTION 2. ORS 339.020 is amended to read:
  339.020. Except as provided in ORS 339.030, every person having
control of any child between the ages of   { - 7 - }   { + 6 + }
and 18 years who has not completed the 12th grade is required to
send such child to and maintain such child in regular attendance
at a public full-time school during the entire school term.
  SECTION 3.  { + The amendments to ORS 339.010 and 339.020 by
sections 1 and 2 of this 2009 Act first apply to a child who is
between the ages of 6 and 18 years at the beginning of the
2010-2011 school year of the school district in which the child
resides. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
that ensure that a child who is six years of age and beginning
public school for the first time is placed, in consultation with
the child's parent or legal guardian, in a grade level that is
appropriate for the child's development. + }
  SECTION 5. ORS 339.030 is amended to read:
  339.030. (1) In the following cases, children 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.
  (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.
  (e) Children being educated in the children's home by a parent
or legal guardian.
  (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 { + :
  (a) The parent or legal guardian of any child who is six years
of age.
  (b) + } The parent or legal guardian of any child 16 or 17
years of age who is { + :
  (A) + } Lawfully employed full-time  { - , - }  { + ;
  (B) + } Lawfully employed part-time and enrolled
 { + part-time + } in school, a community college or an
alternative education program as defined in ORS 336.615
 { - . - }  { + ; or
  (C) Enrolled full-time in a school, a community college or an
alternative education program as defined in ORS 336.615.
  (c)  + }  { - 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 6.  { + The State Board of Education shall adopt the
rules required by section 4 of this 2009 Act and by ORS 339.030,
as amended by section 5 of this 2009 Act, before the beginning of
the 2010-2011 school year. + }
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