Relating to school districts, including authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, requiring school district employees to provide notice to the parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school district if the employee witnesses the student being physically injured, harassed, or bullied, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to school districts, including authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances and requiring classroom teachers employed by school districts to provide notice to the parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school district if the classroom teacher witnesses the student being physically injured, harassed, or bullied.77 if the board of directors of the school district reasonably believes that any student enrolled in the school district has harassed or bullied the student. The bill defines “harassment” and “bullying”. The bill requires a parent or guardian to send a request to the board of directors indicating that the parent or guardian intends to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district. Additionally, the bill requires the board of directors to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district unless the attendance center has insufficient classroom space for the student. The bill authorizes the board of directors to adopt a policy granting the superintendent the authority to approve these requests. The bill requires the board of directors to transmit a copy of the form to the parent or guardian within five days after board action. The bill authorizes the parent or guardian to withdraw the request at any time prior to the board of directors’ action on the request. The bill provides that these requests are for a period of not less than one year.77 may return to the original attendance center and enroll at any time, once the parent or guardian has notified the board of directors of the decision to enroll the student in the original attendance center.77 is for a student requiring special education, the request to transfer to another attendance center shall only be granted if the attendance center maintains a special education instructional program that is appropriate to meet the student’s educational needs and the enrollment of the student in the attendance center would not cause the size of the class or caseload in that special education instructional program in the attendance center to exceed the maximum class size or caseload established pursuant to rules adopted by the state board of education, and, if the student would be assigned to a general education class, there is sufficient classroom space for the general education class to which the student would be assigned. The bill provides that if a student for whom a request to transfer has been filed with the board of directors has been suspended or expelled in the school district, the student shall not be permitted to transfer until the student has been reinstated. The bill also provides that, once the student has been reinstated, the student is permitted to transfer in the same manner as if the student had not been suspended or expelled. The bill establishes that if a student for whom a request to transfer has been filed with the board of directors is expelled, the student shall be permitted to transfer if the student applies for and is reinstated. The bill provides that if the student applies for reinstatement but is not reinstated in the school district, the board of directors may deny the request to transfer.77 is eligible to participate immediately in varsity interscholastic athletic contests and athletic competitions as a member of a team from the receiving attendance center.77 from being construed to prohibit a school district from allowing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district that offers classes at the student’s grade level pursuant to a policy adopted by the board of directors of the school district that allows for transfers for reasons in addition to those allowed pursuant to the bill. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer the new Code section.78, which requires a classroom teacher employed by a school district to notify the parents or guardians of a student enrolled in the school district in writing or by electronic mail within hours after the classroom teacher witnesses any student enrolled in the school district physically injuring, harassing, or bullying the student. The bill takes effect upon enactment.