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On Wednesday evening, the St. Vrain Valley School Board unanimously approved to adopt revisions to JQ_R concerning student fee, fines and charges.
The revisions were recommended by the Colorado Association of School Boards and agreed to by District legal counsel. The revisions "reflect changes in HB 17-1301 “Concerning protecting a student’s access to school records necessary for enrollment in another educational institution despite outstanding payments due to the school,” and
clarity provided by the Secretary of Education regarding Every Student Succeeds Act
(ESSA) amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act," according to the memorandum presented to the St. Vrain School Board.
HB 17-1301 was passed by the Colorado General Assembly and "prohibits a district or BOCES from withholding student records required for enrollment in another school or institution of higher education and from withholding a student’s grades, transcript or diploma due tothe student’s failure to pay a fine or fee or failure to return or replace textbooks, library resources or other school property, C.R.S. 22-32-110(1)(jj)."
According to The Every Student Succeeds Act, state and local education agencies are required to identify and eliminate barriers to accessing academic and extracurricular activities.
In the documentation presented to the school board, the new language states, "If the school district has made a reasonable effort to obtain payment for lost or damaged school property and the student is graduating, the district may deny the privilege of participation in the graduation ceremony if the student has failed to return or replace this property by the date of the ceremony. Alternative payment methods, such as installment plans or school service, shall apply to students who are unable to pay."
Additional amendments have been made that waive extracurricular participation fees and fees attached to courses required for graduation for homeless students defined by McKinney-Vento and students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunches.
