Summary of HB 7023 / PA 15-215

• Replaces the term "special master" with "district improvement officer" throughout education statutes for oversight of low-achieving school districts and turnaround schools, effective July 1, 2015.

• Modifies student health screening requirements: vision screening for kindergarten and grades 1, 3-5; hearing screening for kindergarten and grades 1, 3-5; postural screening for female students in grades 5 and 7, and male students in grades 8-9.

• Establishes new immunities from liability for internship providers offering supervised training to agricultural science and technology education center students, excluding gross or reckless negligence.

• Permits students in grades 11-12 to substitute passage of nationally recognized examinations, cumulative grade point average, and letters of recommendation for standard high school graduation requirements under an academic advancement program.

• Modifies budget reduction provisions for school districts, allowing certain districts with declining enrollment to reduce education appropriations, while exempting alliance districts and top-performing districts; permits alternative budget-sharing agreements for regional school districts.

• Authorizes school personnel to administer antiepileptic medications by rectal syringe to students with epilepsy under physician orders and parent authorization, with required annual training and monthly competency reviews.