1999
BY SENATORS Tebedo, Arnold, Hernandez, Teck, and Weddig;
also REPRESENTATIVES Mace, Gotlieb, Bacon, Chavez, Clarke, Coleman, George, Gordon, Hagedorn, Leyba, McElhany, Miller, Ragsdale, Saliman, Sinclair, Swenson, Tapia, Tate, Tochtrop, Tupa, Veiga, Vigil, S. Williams, Windels, and Zimmerman.
Concerning reporting of dropout rates of students in secondary schools in the state.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. 22-2-114.1 (3), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
22-2-114.1. Dropout rates - collection of data on grades seven through twelve and development of plans. (3) (a) For the purposes of school district record keeping and counting pursuant to this section, a "dropout" means a person who leaves is the subject of notification to a school or school district that such person has left or will leave school for any reason, or such person has been absent from class for six consecutive weeks or more in any one school year, except for reasons of expulsion, excused long term illness, or death, before completion of a high school diploma or its equivalent and who does not transfer to another public or private school or enroll in an approved home study program or in an on-line program pursuant to section 22-33-104.6. Students who are in attendance in an educational program at the end of such school year shall not be reported as dropouts by the school district to the department.
(b) The state board shall also collect data on the students who have dropped out of a regular course of study but who are enrolled and pursuing an alternative program of study.
SECTION 2. 22-2-109 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read:
22-2-109. State board of education - additional duties. (1) The state board of education shall:
(q) Adopt rules that require the reporting between school districts of the enrollment of any students who have transferred to another school or school district within the state. Such rules shall improve the ability of school districts to accurately identify which students have in fact dropped out of school and which students have merely transferred to another school or school district. Such rules shall also set forth uniform standards for determining which school or school district shall count a dropout as part of its own dropout count.
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
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Ray Powers Russell George
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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Patricia K. Dicks Judith M. Rodrigue
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
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Bill Owens
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO