The bill amends the current law regarding graduation rate determinations for school districts in Kansas, specifically focusing on how the state board of education calculates these rates for accreditation purposes. It introduces a new method for calculating the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate by excluding students who either did not earn sufficient credits to graduate with their cohort at the time of transfer or who transferred to a nonaccredited private school. This change applies to all school districts, including those operating virtual schools.

Additionally, the bill modifies the existing language in K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-3713, which previously defined how graduation rates for virtual schools were calculated. The new language removes the requirement to include only those students who had earned sufficient credits at the time of their initial enrollment in the virtual school. Instead, it aligns the calculation method with that of other school districts. The bill also reiterates that no virtual school may offer financial incentives for student enrollment, defining such incentives as any monetary payments intended to encourage enrollment. The existing section of K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-3713 is repealed, and the act will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 72-3713
Sub: 72-3713
As Amended by House Committee: 72-3713
Enrolled: 72-3713