HB0016 Summary

• Allows school boards to create committees on student retention consisting of the district superintendent (or designee), a curriculum administrator, a principal, and a teacher to review and make final decisions on grade retention.

• Requires schools to submit names of students recommended for retention to the committee by a set date, and the committee must review each case and consider teacher performance evaluations before approving retention.

• Authorizes the retention committee to prohibit student retention if it determines the retention is due to inadequate instruction, resources, or facilities provided by the school district, or if the student has an undiagnosed learning disability.

• Protects students with learning disabilities from being denied promotion, graduation, or a general diploma based on failing a minimal competency test when the failure is directly related to the student's disabling condition.

• Takes effect upon becoming law.