The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding education programs in juvenile detention centers and county jails. Specifically, it would prohibit accommodation schools from counting students as in attendance on days they are counted as prisoners in a county jail education program or as students in a juvenile detention center education program. Additionally, the bill clarifies that counties may operate and fund, or operate without funding, these education programs through existing accommodation schools. It also allows county school superintendents to establish and administer education funds to support these programs, ensuring that financial support is available even if the county does not fund the programs directly.

Furthermore, the bill makes several technical changes to existing language, including updates to terminology (e.g., changing "pupil" to "student") and clarifying the processes for calculating student counts and funding amounts. It requires counties that previously funded these programs through accommodation schools to adjust their student counts accordingly when transitioning to a new funding model. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the operation and funding of educational programs for youth in detention settings while ensuring compliance with educational standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-913
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-913, 15-913.01, 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 15-761, 15-1204