This bill creates an exception to present law, which makes the offering of and participation in virtual education programs discretionary for LEAs. This bill requires LEAs to adopt and implement a policy that allows a student who is enrolled in a school of the LEA or a public charter school at the time that an act of mass violence is committed at the school to voluntarily participate in a virtual education program for no less than 31 calendar days from the date that in-person learning first resumes at the school after the act of mass violence is committed. This bill also requires LEAs to provide 31 calendar days, or a longer period as determined by a policy established by the LEA, of the required 180 days of classroom instruction via remote instruction to a student who is enrolled in a public school at the time that an act of mass violence is committed at the school and who voluntarily elects to participate in remote instruction. For purposes of this bill, "mass violence" means any act that leads to serious bodily injury or death, of two or more persons. A student who voluntarily participates in a virtual school program or remote instruction pursuant to this bill: This bill requires that an LEA notify the department of education if a student who is enrolled in a school of the LEA participates in a virtual school program or remote instruction pursuant to this bill and report to the department the length of time the student is authorized to participate in the program or remote instruction.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-16-105, 49-6-3004