Senate approves bill to standardize how BESE tracks non‑enrolled students

Senator Bartholomew presented SB 507, which directs the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a standardized statewide procedure for identifying students who are no longer actively enrolled due to incarceration or unknown whereabouts. The sponsor said the bill shifts the administrative burden away from local schools so they are not penalized on school performance metrics when students cannot be located.

On the floor, senators asked whether BESE had been consulted and whether additional funding or personnel would be necessary. Senator Bartholomew said BESE had been contacted and, "Not at this time" did they request extra funding; he said there is no fiscal note associated with the bill. The bill passed on a recorded vote (35 yeas, 0 nays).

Supporters said the measure will protect school accountability scores from being affected by circumstances outside local control; questions focused on how BESE will operationalize the process and whether the department will later seek resources to implement it. The sponsor indicated openness to amendments if a better venue (for example, shifting responsibility to a different state office) proved appropriate.

What’s next: SB 507 moves to enrolled status after final passage; BESE will be responsible for producing the procedural guidance required by the legislation.