Bill would apply virtual‑school graduation‑rate adjustment to all Kansas public high schools for accreditation

The House Committee on Education held a hearing on substitute Senate Bill 45, which would use an alternative graduation‑rate calculation for accreditation purposes across all Kansas public high schools by excluding certain transfer students from those accreditation calculations.

The committee chair opened the hearing by saying the substitute “takes that alternative graduation rate calculation that was already in law for virtual schools … and adds that to a new provision of law that’s applicable to any public school in the state,” a summary provided by Jason Long, legislative reviser.

Why it matters: Supporters said the change would prevent virtual schools from being penalized for enrolling students who arrive credit‑deficient or who later transfer out to nonaccredited private schools or out of state, showing a more accurate picture of schools’ performance for accreditation. Opponents raised concerns about parity, roles between the legislature and the State Board of Education, and how the change would sit alongside federally required graduation‑rate…