November 17, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
January 13, 2000, reported favorably _ Do Pass; reassigned to Committee on Finance.
January 27, 2000, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
January 28, 2000
Second Regular Session 111th General Assembly (2000)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in
this style type, and deletions will appear in
this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in
this style type. Also, the
word
NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in
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this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 1999 General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 66
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1.
IC 20-8.1-3-17
IS AMENDED TO READ AS
FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2000]: Sec. 17. (a) Subject to the
specific exceptions under this chapter, each individual shall attend
either a public school which the individual is entitled to attend under
IC 20-8.1-6.1
or some other school which is taught in the English
language.
(b) An individual is bound by the requirements of this chapter from
the earlier of the date on which the individual officially enrolls in a
school or, except as provided in subsection (h), the beginning of the fall
school term for the school year in which the individual becomes seven
(7) years of age until the date on which the individual:
(1) graduates;
(2) reaches at least sixteen (16) years of age but who is less than
eighteen (18) years of age and the requirements under subsection
(j) concerning an exit interview are met enabling the individual to
withdraw from school before graduation; or
(3) reaches at least eighteen (18) years of age;
whichever occurs first.
(c) An individual who:
(1) enrolls in school before the fall school term for the school year
in which the individual becomes seven (7) years of age; and
(2) is withdrawn from school before the school year described in
subdivision (1) occurs;
is not subject to the requirements of this chapter until the individual is
reenrolled as required in subsection (b). Nothing in this section shall
be construed to require that a child complete grade 1 before the child
reaches eight (8) years of age.
(d) An individual for whom education is compulsory under this
section shall attend school each year:
(1) for the number of days public schools are in session in the
school corporation in which the individual is enrolled in Indiana;
or
(2) if the individual is enrolled outside Indiana, for the number of
days the public schools are in session where the individual is
enrolled.
(e) In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) through (d), an
individual must be at least five (5) years of age on:
(1) July 1 of the 1991-92 school year; or
(2) June 1 of the 1992-93 school year; or
(1) July 1 of the 2001-2002 school year;
(2) August 1 of the 2002-2003 school year; or
(3) September 1 of the 2003-2004 school year or any
subsequent school year;
to officially enroll in a kindergarten program offered by a school
corporation. However,
subject to subsection (g), the governing body of
the school corporation
shall may adopt a procedure affording a parent
of an individual who does not meet the minimum age requirement set
forth in this subsection the right to appeal to the superintendent of the
school corporation for enrollment of the individual in kindergarten at
an age earlier than the age that is set forth in this subsection.
(f) In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) through (e),
and subject to subsection (g), if an individual enrolls in school as
permitted under subsection (b) and has not attended kindergarten, the
superintendent of the school corporation shall make a determination as
to whether the individual shall enroll in kindergarten or grade 1 based
on the particular model assessment adopted by the governing body
under subsection (g).
(g) To assist the principal and governing bodies, the department
shall do the following:
(1) Establish guidelines to assist each governing body in
establishing a procedure for making appeals to the superintendent
of the school corporation under subsection (e).
(2) Establish criteria by which a governing body may adopt a
model assessment which will be utilized in making the
determination under subsection (f).
(h) If the parents of an individual who would otherwise be subject
to compulsory school attendance under subsection (b), upon request of
the superintendent of the school corporation, certify to the
superintendent of the school corporation that the parents intend to:
(1) enroll the individual in a nonaccredited, nonpublic school; or
(2) begin providing the individual with instruction equivalent to
that given in the public schools as permitted under
IC 20-8.1-3-34; section 34 of this chapter;
not later than the date on which the individual reaches seven (7) years
of age, the individual is not bound by the requirements of this chapter
until the individual reaches seven (7) years of age.
(i) The governing body of each school corporation shall designate
the appropriate employees of the school corporation to conduct the exit
interviews for students described in subsection (b)(2). Each exit
interview must be personally attended by:
(1) the student's parent or guardian;
(2) the student;
(3) each designated appropriate school employee; and
(4) the student's principal.
(j) A student who is at least sixteen (16) years of age but less than
eighteen (18) years of age is bound by the requirements of compulsory
school attendance and may not withdraw from school before graduation
unless:
(1) the student, the student's parent or guardian, and the principal
agree to the withdrawal; and
(2) at the exit interview, the student provides written
acknowledgement acknowledgment of the withdrawal and the
student's parent or guardian and the school principal each provide
written consent for the student to withdraw from school.
(k) For the purposes of this section, "school year" has the meaning
set forth in
IC 21-2-12-3
(j).