The bill amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-3713 to establish guidelines for the accreditation of virtual schools in Kansas. It specifies that the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for virtual schools will be calculated by including only those students who had earned enough credits to graduate in the same school year as their cohort at the time of their initial enrollment. Additionally, students who transferred to homeschooling or nonaccredited private schools will be excluded from this calculation. The bill also mandates that virtual schools cannot offer any financial incentives to encourage student enrollment, defining "financial incentive" as any monetary payment or award aimed at motivating students to enroll.

Furthermore, the bill repeals the previous version of K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-3713, indicating a significant update to the regulations governing virtual schools. The new provisions aim to enhance the accountability and integrity of virtual education in Kansas by ensuring that graduation rates reflect the performance of students who are genuinely engaged in the virtual school system. The act will take effect upon its publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 72-3713