Amended Substitute House Bill 409 Summary

• Establishes new attendance policies for internet- or computer-based community schools (not dropout prevention schools) requiring students to participate in at least 90% of instructional hours or be on pace for course completion, with disenrollment possible after 30+ unexcused absence hours per semester.

• Allows school governing bodies to employ individuals without post-secondary degrees as substitute teachers for the 2020-2021 school year only, with the State Board of Education issuing non-renewable temporary licenses.

• Exempts schools from retaining students under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee for the 2020-2021 school year unless the principal and reading teacher agree the student is reading below grade level.

• Prohibits the Department of Education from publishing state report card ratings for the 2020-2021 school year and establishes safe harbor from penalties and sanctions based on the absence of such ratings.

• Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to extend or waive various deadlines for the 2020-2021 school year related to personnel evaluations, school safety drills, gifted student screening, and other administrative requirements.