Bill > HB05468

This bill, concerning the provision of equivalent instruction, aims to update existing laws regarding parental responsibility for educating children. It defines "equivalent instruction" as education provided by a parent or guardian outside of a public or approved nonpublic school, and "nonpublic school" as a school not operated by the state that is either approved by the Department of Education or files attendance reports. The bill mandates that parents or guardians of children aged five to seventeen must ensure their child is enrolled in public school, attends a nonpublic school, or receives equivalent instruction, with specific procedures for indicating educational choices to the school district, including an "intent to educate" form and a "continuation of equivalent instruction" form for subsequent years. Starting in the 2028-2029 school year, parents opting for equivalent instruction must demonstrate their child's academic progress through a portfolio, standardized testing, or by obtaining a high school diploma, with these demonstrations submitted to the local school board. The bill also allocates funding to local and regional school boards to help cover the costs associated with reviewing these demonstrations and implementing the new requirements. Furthermore, it allows children receiving equivalent instruction to participate in certain public school activities, such as taking up to two classes or participating in extracurricular and athletic programs, with specific rules for athletic participation. Finally, the bill updates how "resident students" are counted for funding purposes to include children receiving equivalent instruction and those participating in public school activities.