Amended Substitute Senate Bill 229 Summary

• Allows schools to declare use of blended or remote learning models for 2021-2022 school year without Department approval, with declarations due by April 30, 2022.

• Requires schools implementing blended/remote learning to ensure student internet and device access, monitor achievement, communicate with parents, and report participation data to the Department.

• Exempts schools using blended/remote learning during 2021-2022 from chronic absenteeism penalties and creates exception to Third Grade Reading Guarantee retention requirement for that school year.

• Establishes State Report Card Review Committee to study 2022-2023 and prior report cards and make recommendations by June 30, 2024.

• Allows licensed professionals to provide telehealth services to scholarship program students and students receiving prior in-person services through June 30, 2022, without licensing board discipline.