Technical education bill advances

On May 1, lawmakers gave first-round approval to a bill that would make various technical changes to current educational statutes.

LB410, introduced by Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan, is a bill requested by the state Department of Education that harmonizes language and eliminates obsolete language currently in statute.

Among other provisions, the bill would:
• require school districts to admit children who turn five between Aug. 1 and Oct. 15 who meet current eligibility requirements;
• allow students who move after Feb. 1 or those whose district merges after Feb. 1 to apply for option enrollment without being released from the resident district for the following school year;
• clarify that the enrollment option program does not relieve parents of compulsory attendance obligations, particularly while waiting for acceptance of an application;
• clarify that an allowance paid to the parents may not substitute for transportation for open enrollment students who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches; and
• add tuition paid and transportation fees paid to other districts into general fund operating expenditures for calculating state aid.

Following the adoption of three technical amendments, senators advanced the bill on a 33-0 vote.