History: R.S. 1923, 72-1101; L. 1943, ch. 248, § 37; L. 1945, ch. 282, § 57; L. 1968, ch. 20, § 1; L. 1972, ch. 253, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 220, § 11; July 1.
History: L. 1968, ch. 20, § 3; Repealed, L. 1970, ch. 279, § 1; July 1.
History: L. 1919, ch. 257, § 1; R.S. 1923, 72-1102; Repealed, L. 1951, ch. 395, § 74; July 1.
History: L. 1919, ch. 257, § 2; R.S. 1923, 72-1103; L. 1925, ch. 224, § 1; L. 1968, ch. 20, § 2; L. 1984, ch. 261, § 5; July 1.
History: L. 1925, ch. 224, § 2; Repealed, L. 1951, ch. 395, § 74; July 1.
History: L. 1919, ch. 257, § 3; R.S. 1923, 72-1104; Repealed, L. 1943, ch. 248, § 42; June 30.
History: L. 1921, ch. 226, § 1; R.S. 1923, 72-1105; Repealed, L. 1943, ch. 248, § 42; June 30.
(b) Subject to a policy developed and adopted by the board of any school district, the board may provide for a school term consisting of school hours. A school term provided for in a policy adopted under this subsection shall consist of: (1) For pupils attending kindergarten, not less than 465 school hours in each school year; and (2) for pupils attending any of the grades one through 11, not less than 1,116 school hours in each school year; and (3) for pupils attending grade 12, not less than 1,086 school hours in each school year. Each board of education which develops and adopts a policy providing for a school term in accordance with this subsection shall notify the state board of education thereof on or before September 15 in each school year for which the policy is to be in effect.
(c) Subject to a plan developed and adopted by the board of any school district, the board may schedule the school days required for a school term provided for under subsection (a), or the school hours required for a school term provided for in a policy adopted under subsection (b), on a trimestral or quarterly basis. Each board of education which develops and adopts a plan providing for the scheduling of the school days or school hours of the school term on a trimestral or quarterly basis shall submit the plan to the state board of education for approval prior to implementation. The plan shall be prepared in such form and manner as the state board shall require and shall be submitted at a time or times to be determined and specified by the state board.
(d) Subject to a policy developed and adopted by the board of any district as an adjunct to the district's disciplinary policy or as a part of the district's school improvement plan, the board may schedule school days in addition to the school days scheduled for a school term provided for under subsection (a), or school hours in addition to the school hours scheduled for a school term provided for in a policy adopted under subsection (b), or both such additional school days and school hours for pupils who are in need of remedial education or who are subject to disciplinary measures imposed under the district's disciplinary policy. Any school day or school hour scheduled for a pupil under a policy adopted under this subsection may be scheduled on weekends, before or after regular school hours, and during the summer months. Inexcusable absence from school on any school day or during any school hour by any pupil for whom additional school days or school hours have been scheduled under a policy adopted under this subsection shall be counted as an inexcusable absence from school for the purposes of K.S.A. 72-1113, and amendments thereto.
(e) If the board of any school district, or its designee, shall determine that inclement weather will cause hazardous driving conditions, the board, or its designee, may close any or all of the schools within the district. The amount of time pupils have been in attendance when such determination is made shall be considered a school day of a school term or shall be considered the number of school hours for pupils to be in attendance at school in a day, whichever is applicable. Consonant with the other provisions of this section, a board may schedule any number of days or hours in excess of the regularly scheduled school days or school hours which the board determines will be necessary to compensate for those school days or school hours that schools of the district will remain closed during the school term due to hazardous driving conditions. If the number of days or hours schools remain closed due to hazardous driving conditions exceeds the number of days or hours scheduled by the board to compensate for such school days or school hours, the excess number of days or hours, not to exceed whichever is the lesser of (1) the number of compensatory days or hours scheduled by the board or (2) five days or the number of school hours regularly scheduled in five days, that schools remain closed due to such conditions shall be considered school days or school hours.
(f) The state board of education may waive the requirements of law relating to the duration of the school term upon application for such waiver by a school district. Such waiver may be granted by the state board of education upon: (1) Certification by a board that, due to the persistence of inclement weather, hazardous driving conditions have existed in the school district for an inordinate period of time; and (2) a determination by the state board that the school district cannot reasonably adjust its schedule to comply with statutory requirements. Such waiver shall not exempt a school district from providing a school offering for each pupil which is substantially equivalent to that required by law.
(g) Time reserved for parent-teacher conferences for discussions on the progress of pupils may be considered part of the school term.
(h) Time reserved for staff development or inservice training programs for the purpose of improving staff skills, developing competency in new or highly specialized fields, improving instructional techniques, or curriculum planning and study may be considered part of the school term for an aggregate amount of time equal to the amount of time in excess of the school term which is scheduled by a board of education for similar activities.
(i) Boards of education may employ noncertificated personnel to supervise pupils for noninstructional activities.
History: L. 1876, ch. 122, art. 5, § 2; R.S. 1923, 72-1106; L. 1943, ch. 248, § 38; L. 1957, ch. 384, § 1; L. 1969, ch. 314, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 366, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 367, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 309, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 243, § 1; L. 1978, ch. 288, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 221, § 8; L. 1980, ch. 217, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 293, § 1; L. 1984, ch. 261, § 6; L. 1984, ch. 262, § 2; L. 1991, ch. 220, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 219, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 280, § 40; L. 2001, ch. 215, § 11; July 1.
History: L. 1973, ch. 280, § 1; Repealed, L. 1974, ch. 292, § 1; March 22.
History: L. 1978, ch. 288, § 3; L. 1980, ch. 217, § 2; July 1.
History: L. 1978, ch. 288, § 2; Repealed, L. 2001, ch. 9, § 1; July 1.
History: L. 1991, ch. 217, § 1; Repealed, L. 2001, ch. 9, § 1; July 1.
(b) As used in this section, the term "disaster" means the occurrence of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or manmade cause, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, wind, storm, epidemics, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, or explosion.
History: L. 2001, ch. 149, § 1; May 17.
(b) any child who has completed a kindergarten course entered and attended in this state in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) or who was a resident in another state and who, while residing in such other state, had entered and was in attendance in first grade in such state or who had completed in such state a kindergarten course maintained by a public school district or by an accredited private, denominational or parochial school shall be eligible to attend first grade in this state, regardless of age;
(c) subject to the provisions of subsection (d), any child is eligible to attend kindergarten in the school district in which the child resides or in a school district which has entered into an agreement in accordance with and under authority of K.S.A. 72-8233, and amendments thereto, with the school district in which the child resides if (1) for the 1994-95 school year, the child will attain the age of five years on or before September 1 of the school year and (2) for any school year commencing after the 1994-95 school year, the child will attain the age of five years on or before August 31 of the school year;
(d) any child who was a resident in another state and who, while residing in such other state, had entered and was in attendance in kindergarten in such state shall be eligible to attend kindergarten in this state, regardless of age.
History: L. 1919, ch. 258, § 1; R.S. 1923, 72-1107; L. 1943, ch. 248, § 39; L. 1965, ch. 405, § 1; L. 1981, ch. 278, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 294, § 1; L. 1984, ch. 261, § 7; L. 1991, ch. 220, § 2; L. 1994, ch. 37, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 318, § 1; July 1.
History: L. 1876, ch. 122, art. 5, § 4; L. 1877, ch. 170, § 2; R.S. 1923, 72-1108; Repealed, L. 1943, ch. 248, § 42; June 30.
History: L. 1876, ch. 122, art. 5, § 5; R.S. 1923, 72-1109; Repealed, L. 1943, ch. 248, § 42; June 30.
History: L. 1951, ch. 395, § 73; L. 1957, ch. 394, § 1; L. 1961, ch. 337, § 1; L. 1965, ch. 410, § 13; L. 1969, ch. 310, § 10; July 1.
(b) If the child is 16 or 17 years of age, the child shall be exempt from the compulsory attendance requirements of this section if (1) the child is regularly enrolled in and attending a program recognized by the local board of education as an approved alternative educational program, or (2) the child and the parent or person acting as parent attend a final counseling session conducted by the school during which a disclaimer to encourage the child to remain in school or to pursue educational alternatives is presented to and signed by the child and the parent or person acting as parent. The disclaimer shall include information regarding the academic skills that the child has not yet achieved, the difference in future earning power between a high school graduate and a high school drop out, and a listing of educational alternatives that are available for the child, or (3) the child is regularly enrolled in a school as required by subsection (a) and is concurrently enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution, as defined by K.S.A. 74-3201b, and amendments thereto. The provisions of this clause (3) shall be applicable to children from and after July 1, 1997 and shall relate back to such date.
(c) Any child who is under the age of seven years, but who is enrolled in school, is subject to the compulsory attendance requirements of this section. Any such child may be withdrawn from enrollment in school at any time by a parent or person acting as parent of the child and thereupon the child shall be exempt from the compulsory attendance requirements of this section until the child reaches the age of seven years or is re-enrolled in school.
(d) Any child who is determined to be an exceptional child, except for an exceptional child who is determined to be a gifted child, under the provisions of the special education for exceptional children act is subject to the compulsory attendance requirements of such act and is exempt from the compulsory attendance requirements of this section.
(e) No child attending public school in this state shall be required to participate in any activity which is contrary to the religious teachings of the child if a written statement signed by one of the parents or a person acting as parent of the child is filed with the proper authorities of the school attended requesting that the child not be required to participate in such activities and stating the reason for the request.
(f) When a recognized church or religious denomination that objects to a regular public high school education provides, offers and teaches, either individually or in cooperation with another recognized church or religious denomination, a regularly supervised program of instruction, which is approved by the state board of education, for children of compulsory school attendance age who have successfully completed the eighth grade, participation in such a program of instruction by any such children whose parents or persons acting as parents are members of the sponsoring church or religious denomination shall be regarded as acceptable school attendance within the meaning of this act. Approval of such programs shall be granted by the state board of education, for two-year periods, upon application from recognized churches and religious denominations, under the following conditions: (1) Each participating child shall be engaged, during each day on which attendance is legally required in the public schools in the school district in which the child resides, in at least five hours of learning activities appropriate to the adult occupation that the child is likely to assume in later years;
(2) acceptable learning activities, for the purposes of this subsection, shall include parent (or person acting as parent) supervised projects in agriculture and homemaking, work-study programs in cooperation with local business and industry, and correspondence courses from schools accredited by the national home study council, recognized by the United States office of education as the competent accrediting agency for private home study schools;
(3) at least 15 hours per week of classroom work under the supervision of an instructor shall be provided, at which time students shall be required to file written reports of the learning activities they have pursued since the time of the last class meeting, indicating the length of time spent on each one, and the instructor shall examine and evaluate such reports, approve plans for further learning activities, and provide necessary assignments and instruction;
(4) regular attendance reports shall be filed as required by law, and students shall be reported as absent for each school day on which they have not completed the prescribed minimum of five hours of learning activities;
(5) the instructor shall keep complete records concerning instruction provided, assignments made, and work pursued by the students, and these records shall be filed on the first day of each month with the state board of education and the board of education of the school district in which the child resides;
(6) the instructor shall be capable of performing competently the functions entrusted thereto;
(7) in applying for approval under this subsection a recognized church or religious denomination shall certify its objection to a regular public high school education and shall specify, in such detail as the state board of education may reasonably require, the program of instruction that it intends to provide and no such program shall be approved unless it fully complies with standards therefor which shall be specified by the state board of education;
(8) if the sponsors of an instructional program approved under this subsection fail to comply at any time with the provisions of this subsection, the state board of education shall rescind, after a written warning has been served and a period of three weeks allowed for compliance, approval of the programs, even though the two-year approval period has not elapsed, and thereupon children attending such program shall be admitted to a high school of the school district.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) "Parent" and "person acting as parent" have the meanings respectively ascribed thereto in K.S.A. 72-1046, and amendments thereto.
(2) "Regularly enrolled" means enrolled in five or more hours of instruction each school day. For the purposes of subsection (b)(3), hours of instruction received at a postsecondary educational institution shall be counted.
History: L. 1874, ch. 123, § 1; L. 1903, ch. 423, § 1; L. 1919, ch. 272, § 1; L. 1923, ch. 182, § 1; R.S. 1923, 72-4801; L. 1965, ch. 409, § 1; L. 1968, ch. 356, § 1; L. 1969, ch. 316, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 310, § 1; L. 1980, ch. 217, § 3; L. 1984, ch. 263, § 1; L. 1996, ch. 229, § 121; L. 1997, ch. 157, § 1; Revived and Amend., L. 2004, ch. 185, § 1; June 10.
History: L. 1968, ch. 356, § 2; Repealed, L. 1969, ch. 312, § 6; May 10.
(b) Whenever a child is required by law to attend school, and the child is not enrolled in a public or nonpublic school, the child shall be considered to be not attending school as required by law and a report thereof shall be made in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) by a designated employee of the board of education of the school district in which the child resides. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the provisions of subsection (d).
(c) (1) Whenever a child is required by law to attend school and is enrolled in school, and the child is inexcusably absent therefrom on either three consecutive school days or five school days in any semester or seven school days in any school year, whichever of the foregoing occurs first, the child shall be considered to be not attending school as required by law. A child is inexcusably absent from school if the child is absent therefrom all or a significant part of a school day without a valid excuse acceptable to the school employee designated by the board of education to have responsibility for the school attendance of such child.
(2) Each board of education shall adopt rules for determination of valid excuse for absence from school and for determination of what shall constitute a "significant part of a school day" for the purpose of this section.
(3) Each board of education shall designate one or more employees, who shall each be responsible for determining the acceptability and validity of offered excuses for absence from school of specified children, so that a designee is responsible for making such determination for each child enrolled in school.
(4) Whenever a determination is made in accordance with the provisions of this subsection that a child is not attending school as required by law, the designated employee who is responsible for such determination shall make a report thereof in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a).
(5) The provisions of this subsection are subject to the provisions of subsection (d).
(d) (1) Prior to making any report under this section that a child is not attending school as required by law, the designated employee of the board of education shall serve written notice thereof, by personal delivery or by first class mail, upon a parent or person acting as parent of the child. The notice shall inform the parent or person acting as parent that continued failure of the child to attend school without a valid excuse will result in a report being made to the secretary of social and rehabilitation services or to the county or district attorney. Upon failure, on the school day next succeeding personal delivery of the notice or within three school days after the notice was mailed, of attendance at school by the child or of an acceptable response, as determined by the designated employee, to the notice by a parent or person acting as parent of the child, the designated employee shall make a report thereof in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a). The designated employee shall submit with the report a certificate verifying the manner in which notice was provided to the parent or person acting as parent.
(2) Whenever a law enforcement officer assumes temporary custody of a child who is found away from home or school without a valid excuse during the hours school is actually in session, and the law enforcement officer delivers the child to the school in which the child is enrolled or to a location designated by the school in which the child is enrolled to address truancy issues, the designated employee of the board of education shall serve notice thereof upon a parent or person acting as parent of the child. The notice may be oral or written and shall inform the parent or person acting as parent of the child that the child was absent from school without a valid excuse and was delivered to school by a law enforcement officer.
(e) Whenever the secretary of social and rehabilitation services receives a report required under this section, the secretary shall investigate the matter. If, during the investigation, the secretary determines that the reported child is not attending school as required by law, the secretary shall institute proceedings under the revised Kansas code for care of children. If, during the investigation, the secretary determines that a criminal prosecution should be considered, the secretary shall make a report of the case to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
(f) Whenever a county or district attorney receives a report required under this section, the county or district attorney shall investigate the matter. If, during the investigation, the county or district attorney determines that the reported child is not attending school as required by law, the county or district attorney shall prepare and file a petition alleging that the child is a child in need of care. If, during the investigation, the county or district attorney determines that a criminal prosecution is necessary, the county or district attorney shall commence such action.
(g) As used in this section, "board of education" means the board of education of a school district or the governing authority of a nonpublic school. The provisions of this act shall apply to both public and nonpublic schools.
History: L. 1969, ch. 316, § 2; L. 1972, ch. 254, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 279, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 145, § 231; L. 1982, ch. 182, § 141; L. 1986, ch. 158, § 3; L. 1989, ch. 215, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 221, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 29, § 3; L. 1996, ch. 229, § 122; L. 1997, ch. 157, § 2; L. 2000, ch. 150, § 32; L. 2006, ch. 200, § 113; Jan. 1, 2007.
History: L. 1972, ch. 277, §§ 1 to 3; Repealed, L. 1999, ch. 10, § 1; July 1.
(b) The state board of education shall prescribe the school year, not later than the 1990-91 school year, in which the requirement of subsection (a) shall become applicable and may provide for such waivers from the requirement as the board deems appropriate.
History: L. 1988, ch. 277, § 1; July 1.
(a) "Accredited school" means any elementary or secondary school maintained and operated by a school district and any accredited nonpublic school offering any of grades kindergarten through 12.
(b) "State educational institution" has the meaning ascribed thereto in K.S.A. 76-711, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1990, ch. 253, § 1; July 1.
History: L. 1990, ch. 253, § 2; July 1.
History: L. 1990, ch. 253, § 3; July 1.
History: L. 1990, ch. 253, § 4; July 1.
(a) "Blind persons" means individuals who:
(1) Have a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with conventional correction, or have a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than 20°;
(2) have a reasonable expectation of visual deterioration; or
(3) cannot read printed material at a competitive rate of speed and with facility due to lack of visual acuity.
(b) "Braille" means the system of reading and writing through touch commonly known as standard English Braille.
(c) "Student" means any student who is blind or any student eligible for special education services for visually impaired as defined in public law 94-142.
History: L. 1991, ch. 118, § 1; July 1.
History: L. 1991, ch. 118, § 2; July 1.
(a) How Braille will be implemented as the primary mode for learning through integration with normal classroom activities. If Braille will not be provided to a child who is blind, the reason for not incorporating it in the individualized education plan shall be documented therein;
(b) the date on which Braille instruction will commence;
(c) the level of competency in Braille reading and writing to be achieved by the end of the period covered by the individualized education plan; and
(d) the duration of each session.
History: L. 1991, ch. 118, § 3; July 1.
History: L. 1991, ch. 118, § 4; July 1.
(b) As used in this section, the term "community service" means a service performed by a high school student, without monetary compensation or remuneration, for the purpose of benefiting the student's community. The service performed may include, but not by way of limitation, mentoring or tutoring elementary school pupils, assisting in a nursing home or adult care center, providing lawn care or performing other tasks for senior citizens or disabled persons, assisting in a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen, organizing or assisting in fund raisers for disaster victims and other needy persons, assisting community-based nonprofit agencies that provide programs and services for low-income people, the disabled and the elderly, assisting fraternal organizations in charitable activities.
History: L. 2002, ch. 167, § 8; July 1.
(b) Every accredited high school in the state of Kansas also shall teach the subjects and areas of instruction necessary to meet the graduation requirements adopted by the state board of education as of January 1, 2005.
(c) Subjects and areas of instruction shall be designed by the state board of education to achieve the following goals established by the legislature to allow for the:
(1) Development of sufficient oral and written communication skills which enable students to function in a complex and rapidly changing society;
(2) acquisition of sufficient knowledge of economic, social and political systems which enable students to understand the issues that affect the community, state and nation;
(3) development of students' mental and physical wellness;
(4) development of knowledge of the fine arts to enable students to appreciate the cultural and historical heritage of others;
(5) training or preparation for advanced training in either academic or vocational fields so as to enable students to choose and pursue life work intelligently;
(6) development of sufficient levels of academic or vocational skills to enable students to compete favorably in academics and the job market; and
(7) needs of students requiring special education services.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as relieving the state or school districts from other duties and requirements imposed by state or federal law including, but not limited to, at-risk programs for pupils needing intervention, programs concerning special education and related services and bilingual education.
History: L. 2005, ch. 152, § 6; July 1.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Character development program" means a program which is secular in nature and which stresses character qualities.
(2) "Character qualities" means positive character qualities which include, but is not limited to, honesty, responsibility, attentiveness, patience, kindness, respect, self-control, tolerance, cooperation, initiative, patriotism and citizenship.
(3) "State board" means the state board of education.
History: L. 2007, ch. 185, § 5; May 24.