Bill Text: AZ SB1127 | 2015 | Fifty-second Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Foster children; educational requirements
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-03 - Referred to Senate RULES Committee [SB1127 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2015-SB1127-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: foster children; educational requirements |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015
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SB 1127 |
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Introduced by Senators Bradley, Begay: Cajero Bedford
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AN ACT
amending title 8, chapter 4, article 10, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 8‑848; amending Title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-105; relating to children in foster care.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 8, chapter 4, article 10, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 8-848, to read:
8-848. School stability; change in school; notice report
A. School stability shall be considered in all decisions to place a child. If a child's placement changes, the department of child safety shall make arrangements for the child to remain in the same school if this is in the best interests of the child.
B. For all planned changes in placement, if a child is to change schools, the department of child safety shall notify all of the following at least five days, excluding weekends and holidays, before the change:
1. The child's current school.
2. The child's new school.
3. The court.
4. The child's attorney.
5. The person or entity who is legally entitled to make educational decisions on behalf of the child.
C. For all planned changes in placement, if the child changing schools has an individualized education plan, the department of child safety shall provide the notice prescribed in subsection b of this section at least ten days, excluding weekends and holidays, before the change.
D. If the department of child safety is required to report to the court on the status of the child, the department of child safety shall include in the report information on all of the following:
1. The child's recent academic performance.
2. The child's educational goals and objectives and the child's progress in meeting these goals and objectives.
3. The suitability of the person or entity that is legally entitled to make educational decisions on behalf of the child.
Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-105, to read:
15-105. Children in foster care; school liaison; graduation requirements
A. Each school district and charter school shall:
1. Assign at least one officer or employee to act as a liaison for children in foster care who enroll in the school district or charter school. The liaison for children in foster care shall:
(a) Ensure that children in foster care receive proper educational placement, proper school enrollment and the proper transfer to and from other schools, school districts and charter schools.
(b) Assist children in foster care with the transfer of grades, credits and educational records to and from other schools, school districts or charter schools.
(c) Coordinate services and support with public and private agencies that provide services to children in foster care.
2. Provide children in foster care access to the same academic resources, services, extracurricular activities and enrichment activities that are available to other pupils.
3. Notwithstanding any other law, allow each child in foster care to continue enrollment in that child's current school and to enroll in schools that provide instruction in higher‑level grades in the same attendance area for the remainder of the time in which the child is in foster care.
4. Immediately enroll a child in foster care in that school district or charter school. Notwithstanding any other law, a child in foster care may not be denied enrollment pursuant to this paragraph for any of the following reasons:
(a) Outstanding fees, fines, textbooks or other items or monies due from the child in foster care to a school where that child was previously enrolled.
(b) The child is not wearing or does not possess the clothing or uniform normally required for attendance at the school.
(c) The child does not possess or have access to the records normally required for enrollment, such as academic records, medical records, immunization history or proof of residency.
5. Within five days after enrollment of a child in foster care, contact the school that the child previously attended to request a copy of the child's educational records.
6. Accept and award full or partial credit earned for coursework that is satisfactorily completed by a child in foster care at a school the child previously attended.
7. allow a child in foster care to be absent from school without being subject to disciplinary action or academic penalty if the absence is a direct result of foster care placement proceedings, court appearances or other activities that are ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
8. Within five days after notification of a child in foster care's pending transfer to another school district or charter school, regardless of any outstanding fees, fines, textbooks or other items or monies due from the child in foster care, compile and transfer that child's complete educational records to the other school district or charter school, including attendance records, academic credits earned, classes taken, grades earned, immunization records and, if applicable, records and documentation pertaining to special education.
B. Notwithstanding section 15‑701.01, a child in foster care who transfers to another school district or charter school after the child has completed tenth grade:
1. Shall be allowed to graduate from high school without satisfying any graduation requirements of that school district or charter school that are in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements that the state board of education prescribes if all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The principal of the high school that the child in foster care transferred from certifies in writing that the child was on track to graduate from that high school at the time of the transfer.
(b) The principal of the high school that the child in foster care transfers to certifies in writing that the child cannot reasonably complete the graduation requirements that are in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements that the state board of education prescribes.
(c) The child in foster care completes the course of study and competency requirements that the state board of education prescribes for the graduation of pupils from high school.
(d) The person or entity who is legally entitled to make educational decisions on behalf of the child in foster care certifies in writing that graduation from high school is in the child's best interest.
2. May remain in high school until the child satisfies the graduation requirements of that school district or charter school that are in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements that the state board of education prescribes or until the child reaches twenty‑two years of age, whichever occurs first, if the person or entity that is legally entitled to make educational decisions on behalf of the child in foster care determines that the child can reasonably complete the additional graduation requirements.
Sec. 3. Intent
It is the intent of the legislature that educators, social workers, probation officers, caretakers, advocates and juvenile courts work together to meet the educational needs of children in foster care.
