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House moves to separate virtual-school graduation rates, exclude late transfers from cohorts
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 45, reported favorably by the Committee of the Whole, would adjust how virtual-school graduation rates are calculated by excluding certain transfer students and calculating virtual-school rates separately from district rates.
The Kansas House Committee of the Whole reported substitute Senate Bill 45 favorably. The substitute would change how graduation rates are calculated for virtual schools and certain districts connected to virtual programs.
Representative Steele, carrying the committee report, described amendments that exclude from virtual-school graduation-rate calculations students who transferred in after grade 8 without enough credits to graduate with their original cohort; exclude students who transfer to home schools, nonaccredited private schools in Kansas, or to another state; and require that virtual-school graduation rates be calculated separately from the overall district rate. "The graduation rates will only count students who had enough credits to graduate with their original cohort when first enrolling in the virtual school," Steele said.
Opponents argued the topic falls under the purview of the Kansas State Board of Education. Representative Stocksdale said the State Board, charged by the constitution with accreditation and related matters, should address the issue rather than the Legislature. Representative Estes argued the change would produce more accurate data about graduation likelihoods for students who transfer late.
Steele moved that the committee report substitute SB 45 be reported favorably for passage; the Committee of the Whole recommended passage by voice vote.
