Bill > H712

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program aimed at preventing student dropouts and supporting students at risk of leaving school, focusing on districts with dropout rates higher than the state average. The program will be administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education through a competitive grant process and will offer multiple intervention strategies including alternative education programs with evidence-based instruction, graduation coaches who provide personalized academic and career support, dropout outreach and recovery programs to reconnect with students who have already left school, and specialized support for expectant and parenting students. The alternative education approaches may include smaller class sizes, competency-based learning, project-based learning, work-based learning, community service, and social service referrals. The bill requires annual reporting on the program's progress, detailing the number of districts and students served, types of services provided, and student outcomes like diploma attainment or GED completion. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to require school attendance for all children under 18 who have not graduated high school, and mandates that the department submit a final comprehensive report within six months of the pilot program's conclusion, including recommendations for the program's future. The provisions are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H712