Technical education bill passed

Lawmakers passed a bill May 23 that makes 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:
• requires school districts to admit children who turn five between Aug. 1 and Oct. 15 who meet current eligibility requirements;
• allows students who move after Feb. 1 or those whose districts merge after Feb. 1 to apply for option enrollment without being released from the resident district for the following school year;
• clarifies that the enrollment option program does not relieve parents of compulsory attendance obligations, particularly while waiting for acceptance of an application;
• clarifies 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
• adds tuition paid and transportation fees paid to other districts into general fund operating expenditures for calculating state aid.

The bill passed on a 42-0 vote.