Oregon School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Alternative placements

Discipline Compendium

Oregon School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Alternative placements

Category: Exclusionary Discipline: Suspension, Expulsion, and Alternative Placement
Subcategory: Alternative placements
State: Oregon

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LAWS

336.580. Education at youth care centers; rules.

(1) Every child at a youth care center, as defined in ORS 420.855, is entitled to receive appropriate education suited to the needs of the child in the least restrictive environment in which the child can function until the child is no longer of compulsory school age or receives a high school diploma or an equivalent.

(2)(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this subsection, the school district in which the youth care center is located shall develop an educational plan for the children in the youth care center in consultation with the director of the center. The plan shall be approved annually by the school district board.

(b) For children placed at a youth care center within a detention facility, as defined in ORS 419A.004, the children shall receive educational services through the Juvenile Detention Education Program as described in ORS 326.695.

(3) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of ORS 336.575 and 339.137 and this section. If a district fails to comply, the superintendent shall find the district deficient and shall apply the penalty provided in ORS 327.103.

(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.

336.585. Education for children enrolled in Juvenile Detention Education Program; costs; rules; notification to resident district.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Juvenile Detention Education Program" means the program defined in ORS 326.695.

(b) "Resident district" means the school district in which the parents or legal guardian, if any, of a child resided at the time of the child's enrollment in the Juvenile Detention Education Program. If the child has no parents or legal guardian, or none can be located, the resident district is the school district in which the child is physically located.

(2)(a) The Department of Education shall provide or cause to be provided appropriate education for children enrolled in an educational program under the Juvenile Detention Education Program. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may contract with a school district or education service district to provide or cause to be provided appropriate education to children enrolled in an educational program under the Juvenile Detention Education Program.

(b) An education service district that provides education as provided by this subsection and that awards high school diplomas:

(A) May not impose requirements for a high school diploma that are in addition to the requirements prescribed by ORS 329.451 (2)(a) or by rule of the State Board of Education; and

(B) Must accept any credits previously earned by children in another school or educational program in this state and apply those credits toward the requirements prescribed by ORS 329.451 (2)(a) or by rule of the State Board of Education.

(3) The superintendent shall pay the costs of providing education to children enrolled in an educational program under the Juvenile Detention Education Program from the State School Fund grant allocated for that purpose under ORS 327.026.

(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule standards to be applied to the operation of the Juvenile Detention Education Program, including standards that allow a school district or an education service district under contract with the superintendent to:

(a) Implement an assessment system as provided by ORS 329.485 (3).

(b) Administer a nationally normed assessment as provided by ORS 329.488.

(c) Participate in the beginning teacher and administrator mentorship program established by ORS 329.788 to 329.820.

(d) Receive funds under ORS chapter 329.

(5) The superintendent shall ensure that the resident district of each child enrolled in an educational program under the Juvenile Detention Education Program is notified, if the resident district can be reasonably identified. The purposes of the notification include, but are not limited to:

(a) Removing the child from the resident district's census;

(b) Facilitating transfers of the child's educational records; and

(c) Facilitating planning for the child's possible return to the resident district.

336.590. Education for children enrolled in Youth Corrections Education Program; costs; rules.

(1) As used in this section, "Youth Corrections Education Program" means the program defined in ORS 326.695.

(2) The Department of Education shall provide or cause to be provided appropriate education for children enrolled in an educational program under the Youth Corrections Education Program. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may contract with a school district or education service district to provide or cause to be provided appropriate education to children enrolled in an educational program under the Youth Corrections Education Program.

(3) The superintendent shall pay the costs of providing education to children enrolled in an educational program under the Youth Corrections Education Program from the State School Fund grant allocated for that purpose under ORS 327.026.

(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule standards to be applied to the operation of the Youth Corrections Education Program, including standards that allow a school district or an education service district under contract with the superintendent to:

(a) Award high school diplomas, modified diplomas, extended diplomas and alternative certificates as provided by ORS 329.451 and 339.877. An education service district that awards high school diplomas as provided by this paragraph:

(A) May not impose requirements for a high school diploma that are in addition to the requirements prescribed by ORS 329.451 (2)(a) or by rule of the State Board of Education; and

(B) Must accept any credits previously earned by children in another school or educational program in this state and apply those credits toward the requirements prescribed by ORS 329.451 (2)(a) or by rule of the State Board of Education.

(b) Implement an assessment system as provided by ORS 329.485 (3).

(c) Administer a nationally normed assessment as provided by ORS 329.488.

(d) Participate in the beginning teacher and administrator mentorship program established by ORS 329.788 to 329.820.

(e) Receive funds under ORS chapter 329.

336.615. Definition for ORS 336.615 to 336.665.

As used in ORS 336.615 to 336.665, "alternative education program" means a school or separate class group designed to best serve students' educational needs and interests and assist students in achieving the academic standards of the school district and the state.

336.625. Goals; district responsibility; registration; rules.

(1) In implementing alternative education programs, district school boards shall maintain learning situations that are flexible with regard to environment, time, structure and pedagogy.

(2) Students participating in alternative education programs are considered to be the responsibility of the resident district for purposes of ORS 332.072.

(3) The State Board of Education by rule:

(a) Shall define the accountable activities and allowable credit for these activities in alternative education programs;

(b) Shall adopt a process for registering private alternative education programs that includes, but is not limited to, the requirements of ORS 336.631; and

(c) Shall establish standards for private alternative education programs to ensure a safe educational environment and an instructional program that provides students with the opportunity to make progress toward achieving state academic content and performance standards.

(4) A school district may not waive the right to implement an alternative education program in a collective bargaining agreement.

336.631. Private alternative programs; requirements; applicability of laws; placement of students.

(1) Prior to contracting with or distributing any public funds to a private alternative education program, a district school board shall:

(a) Annually approve the private alternative education program;

(b) Determine that the private alternative education program is registered with the Department of Education; and

(c) Determine that the private alternative education program complies with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section and ORS 336.625 (3)(c).

(2) The following laws apply to private alternative education programs that are registered with the Department of Education under ORS 336.635 in the same manner as the laws apply to school districts and public schools:

(a) Federal law;

(b) ORS 181A.195, 326.603, 326.607 and 342.223 (criminal records checks);

(c) ORS 329.496 (physical education);

(d) ORS 337.150, 339.141, 339.147 and 339.155 (tuition and fees);

(e) ORS 659.850, 659.855 and 659.860 (discrimination);

(f) ORS 339.122 (advertisement requirements);

(g) Health and safety statutes and rules; and

(h) Any statute, rule or school district policy that is specified in a contract between the school district board and the private alternative education program.

(3) Prior to placement of a student in a private alternative education program, the resident district shall determine whether the proposed placement best serves the student's educational needs and interests and assists the student in achieving the district and state academic standards.

(4) Contracts between a school district and a private alternative education program shall be included in the assessment of effectiveness provided for in ORS 329.085.

336.635. Enrollment in alternative education program; billing; rules; status of teachers.

(1) The parent or guardian of a student may enroll the student in one of the proposed public alternative education programs or private alternative education programs of instruction or instruction combined with counseling if:

(a) The enrollment is necessary to meet the student's educational needs and interests.

(b) The program is appropriate and accessible to the student.

(c) For a program in a school district in which the student is a resident, the resident school district approves the enrollment.

(d) For a program in a school district in which the student is not a resident, the resident school district and the attending school district approve the enrollment.

(e) For a private alternative education program, the program is registered with the Department of Education.

(2) If the student is eligible for special education under ORS 343.221 to 343.236 and 343.261 to 343.295, the program must be approved by the Department of Education prior to the placement of the student in the program.

(3) A student enrolled pursuant to this section is considered enrolled in the schools of the district offering the program for purposes of the distribution of the State School Fund.

(4) An alternative education program that is offered to a student who is not a resident of the school district may bill tuition to the school district where the student is a resident. The billing may be made annually or at the end of each term or semester of the alternative education program. For each full-time equivalent student enrolled in the alternative education program, the resident school district shall pay the actual cost of the program or an amount at least equivalent to 80 percent of the district's estimated current year's average per student net operating expenditure, whichever is less, in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The alternative education program is accountable for the expenditures of all State School Fund moneys and other local school support moneys and shall provide the resident school district with an annual statement of the expenditures.

(5) A private alternative education program that is registered with the department is not required to employ only licensed teachers or administrators. Teachers and administrators in private programs are not considered employees of any school district for purposes of ORS 342.173.

(6) A school district is not required to provide a public alternative education program if the student can be referred to public or approved private alternative education programs that are appropriate for and accessible to the student.

(7) Any preliminary teaching license, professional teaching license or distinguished teacher leader license issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission is valid for teaching all subjects and grade levels in an alternative education program operated by a school district or education service district.

336.637. Instruction in educational standards required; assessment of students in private alternative education programs.

(1) A private alternative education program shall ensure that students receive instruction in the educational standards adopted by the State Board of Education for the grade level the program serves.

(2) Students enrolled in a private alternative education program shall take the statewide assessment developed by the Department of Education under ORS 329.485. A private alternative education program shall be accountable for determining the progress of its students toward achieving academic content standards as defined in ORS 329.007. The private alternative education program shall report, at least annually, each student's academic progress, including the results of the state assessment to students, parents and the school district.

336.645. Notification of availability of program; rules.

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of ORS 336.615 to 336.665 that shall include rules regarding school district notification to parents and students of the availability of alternative education programs, the law regarding alternative education programs and the procedures for requesting district school boards to establish alternative education programs.

336.665. Effect of failure to propose alternative programs.

(1) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall find a school district to be deficient within the meaning of ORS 327.103 if the district fails to cause the proposal of alternative programs to be made under ORS 339.250 (5)(h) or (7)(c)(B).

(2) The failure to cause the proposal of alternative programs shall not be grounds for a civil action against the school district.

339.250. Duty of student to comply with rules; policies on discipline, suspension, expulsion, threats of violence or harm, firearms and physical force; student handbook or code of conduct; enforcement of policies.

(2) Each district school board shall adopt written policies for the discipline, suspension or expulsion of any refractory student. The policies:

(g) Notwithstanding ORS 336.010, may require a student to attend school during nonschool hours as an alternative to suspension if the total number of hours does not exceed the equivalent of 10 school days. [...]

(5) In establishing and enforcing discipline, suspension and expulsion policies, a district school board shall ensure that the policy is designed to:

(h) Propose, prior to a student's expulsion or leaving school, alternative programs of instruction or instruction combined with counseling for the student that are appropriate and accessible to the student in the following circumstances:

(A) Following a second or subsequent occurrence within any three-year period of a severe disciplinary problem with the student; or

(B) When a parent or legal guardian applies for the student's exemption from compulsory attendance on a semiannual basis as provided in ORS 339.030 (2);

(i) To the extent practicable, use approaches that are shown through research to be effective in reducing student misbehavior and promoting safe and productive social behavior; and

(j) Ensure that school conduct and discipline codes comply with all state and federal laws concerning the education of students with disabilities.

(6) Except for policies adopted under subsection (7) of this section, any policies adopted under this section must provide for the dissemination of information about alternative programs of instruction or instruction combined with counseling, as described in subsection (5)(h) of this section, in writing to the student and the parent, legal guardian or person in parental relationship with the student at least once every six months, unless the information has changed because of the availability of new programs.

(7) Each district school board shall adopt a written policy involving firearms, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921. The policy shall:

(c) Allow a superintendent of a school district to:

(B) Propose alternative programs of instruction or instruction combined with counseling for a student that are appropriate and accessible to the student. If alternative programs are appropriate for a student, the superintendent shall ensure that information about programs of instruction or instruction combined with counseling is provided in writing to the student and the parent, legal guardian or person in parental relationship with the student at least once every six months, or at any time the information changes because of the availability of new programs.

339.331. Mission; duties; annual report; staff; funding.

(2) To fulfill its mission, the Center for School Safety shall:

(a) Establish a clearinghouse for information and materials concerning school violence prevention and intervention services. As used in this paragraph, "intervention services" means any preventive, developmental, corrective or supportive service or treatment provided to a student who is at risk of school failure, is at risk of participation in violent behavior or juvenile crime or has been expelled from the school district. "Intervention services" may include, but is not limited to:

(C) Alternative education programs.

REGULATIONS

581-021-0071. District information for parents and students regarding the availability of alternative education programs.

(1) The following definitions apply to this rule:

(a) "Erratic attendance" means the student is frequently absent to the degree that he/she is not benefiting from the educational program;

(b) "Notification" means written notice, by personal service or certified mail, to the parent or guardian and student as required by ORS 339.250(6).

(2) District school boards shall adopt policies and procedures for notification to students and parents, or guardians of the availability of appropriate and accessible alternative programs. This notification shall be provided in the following situations:

(a) Upon the occurrence of a second or any subsequent occurrence of a severe disciplinary problem within a three-year period;

(b) When the district finds a students attendance pattern to be so erratic that the student is not benefiting from the educational program;

(c) When the district is considering expulsion as a disciplinary alternative;

(d) When a student is expelled pursuant to subsection (2) of ORS 339.250; and

(e) When an emancipated minor, parent, or legal guardian applies for a students exemption from compulsory attendance on a semiannual basis as provided in ORS 339.030(2).

(3) The notification must include but is not limited to the following:

(a) Student action which is the basis for consideration of alternative education;

(b) Listing of alternative programs available to this student for which the district would provide financial support in accordance with ORS 339.620 except that when notice is given in accordance with subsection (2)(e) of this rule the district shall not be obligated to provide financial support;

(c) The program recommended for the student based on students learning styles and needs;

(d) Procedures for enrolling the student in the recommended program; and

(e) When the parent or guardians language is other than English, the district must provide notification in manner that the parent or guardian can understand.

(4) The district shall inform all parents or guardians of the law regarding alternative education and educational services available to students by such means as a statement in the student/parent handbook, notice in the newspaper, or an individual letter to a parent.

(5) District school boards shall adopt a procedure for parents or guardians to request establishment of alternative programs within the district.

(6) District school boards shall not approve the enrollment of a pupil in a private alternative program unless the private alternative program meets all requirements of OAR 581-021-0045.

581-021-0072. Registration of private alternative programs/schools.

(1) All Sections of this rule apply to each private alternative education program approved by a school district board on or after July 1, 2007. For the purposes of this rule, the term "program" includes "school."

(2) For the purposes of ORS 336.635(1), all private alternative education programs receiving public school funds must comply with Private Alternative Education Standards established by the Oregon State Board of Education. Before contracting with or receiving public funds from any public school district, each private alternative program must register with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) under this rule and must have an institution identification number assigned by the Department.

(3) New registration and renewal applications must be received each year by a date to be determined by the Department. Annually by March 1, the Oregon Department of Education will provide registration renewal application forms to private alternative programs registered with the Department.

(4) Each private alternative education program must apply to the Department for approval of registration renewal and the application for registration or renewal of registration must include information or documentation as required by the Department that the private alternative program meets:

(a) Local and state fire, safety, health and occupancy codes and standards;

(b) Health and safety standards and rules including, but not limited to, sanitation and prevention of communicable disease;

(c) The requirements of:

(A) OAR 581-022-1420 (emergency plans and safety programs);

(B) OAR 581-022-1430 (asbestos management plans);

(C) OAR 581-022-1440 (infectious diseases);

(D) ORS 339.870 and OAR 581-021-0037 (administration of medications);

(E) OAR 437-002-1910.1030 (Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division–blood borne pathogens);

(F) OAR 581-022-0705 (health services);

(G) ORS 337.150, 339.141, 339.147 and 339.155 (tuition and fees);

(H) ORS 181.539, 326.603, 326.607, 336.631, and 342.232 (criminal records checks) for all subject individuals as defined in OAR 581-022-1730, including private alternative school/program owner/operators who have direct, unsupervised contact with students;

(I) ORS 433.235 through 433.284 and OAR 333-050-0010 through 333-050-0120 (immunization records and reports); and

(J) ORS 659.850 and 659.855 (discrimination).

(5) The annual application must also include assurances and verifying documentation, as required by the Department, that the private alternative program:

(a) Has a mission statement;

(b) Maintains commercial general liability insurance with policy limits of at least $1,000,000 and annually provides ODE with requested information or documentation showing the name of the insurance company, the number of the insurance policy, the policy limits covered by the policy, and the effective term of the policy;

(c) Identifies the grade levels to be served;

(d) Identifies which students will be served consistent with OAR 581-022-1350(4)(a)(A);

(e) Assists the contracting district in meeting its planned K-12 instructional program in compliance with OAR 581-022-1210;

(f) Provides instruction in the academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education and that students participate in district and state assessments of achievement for the grade level(s) the program serves;

(g) Assists students in earning diploma credits consistent with OAR 581-022-2000 and 581-022-1131;

(h) Uses curriculum content, teaching practices, facilities, and management practices that do not violate constitutional prohibitions on religious entanglement;

(i) Develops, implements, and, if necessary, modifies an education plan consistent with OAR 581-022-1120(3)(a) and (b), and 581-022-2000(3), Diploma Requirements, for each student approved for placement in the program by the student's contracting district;

(j) In cooperation with each student's contracting district and parent, guardian, or other responsible adult, includes criteria in the student's education plan for determining if, how, when, and where the student may transition from the alternative education program;

(k) At least annually reports the results of each student's performance on district-wide and state-wide assessments to the student, the student's parents or legal guardians, and to the student's contracting district;

(l) Collects and reports to each contracting district and the state the student's local and state assessment, attendance, behavior, graduation, dropout, and other data required by the district and the state;

(m) If providing special education services or related services identified in any child's IEP, is approved by the ODE under OAR 581-015-0126;

(n) Maintains the confidentiality of student records consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 34 CFR 99 et. seq. and maintains student records in compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules on student records;

(o) The school shall provide training for all students which is designed to prevent child abuse.

(p) The school shall include training for all school employees on the prevention and identification of child abuse and on the obligations of school employees to report child abuse based on policies adopted by the school board or governing body. This training shall be updated and presented to all employees on an annual basis.

(q) The school shall make the training detailed in section (o) of this rule available to parents and legal guardians of children who attend a school operated by the education provider. The training shall be provided separately from the training provided to school employees under section (p) of this rule.

(r) Has procedures in place regarding staff hiring and evaluation that require:

(A) Checking personal and professional references for all potential employees;

(B) Criminal background checks in compliance with OAR 581-022-1730 and ORS 181.539, 326.603, 326.607 and 342.232 and to comply with section (9) of this rule, for all employees;

(C) A regular schedule of staff evaluations of the competencies of all employees that work with children; and

(D) Staff licensing/registration by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission in compliance with OAR 584-036-0015;

(s) For purposes of claiming state school funds, has policies and procedures to ensure that:

(A) Students enrolled in a public school district and receiving instruction in the district's comprehensive planned K-12 curriculum consistent with OAR 581-022-1210 and who are individually placed by the school district in the alternative education program under ORS 336.635 are accounted for in compliance with OAR 581-023-0006(7);

(B) Students enrolled in schools consistent with ORS 336.135 and students enrolled in nonpublic schools or taught by a private teacher or parent under ORS 339.035 and who are supplementing their home, private, or other instruction by attending the alternative program part-time are accounted for in compliance with OAR 581-023-0006(6)(a); and

(C) The activities claimed for state school funds by the program are one or more of those in OAR 581-023-0008 as approved by the contracting school district; and

(t) Complies with each statute, rule or school district policy specified in a contract between the school district board and the private alternative education program; and

(u) Notifies the ODE and each contracting public school district of any written complaint it receives alleging non-compliance with this private alternative program registration rule.

(6) Each annual renewal application must include a copy of the written annual evaluation of the applicant private alternative program completed by each contracting public school district for the prior school year.

(7) Each private alternative program must provide an annual statement of program expenditures to each contracting district consistent with ORS 336.635(2).

(8) The Oregon Department of Education may monitor the procedure used by the private alternative program for reporting Full Time Equivalent (FTE) student enrollment for the purposes of basic school support.

(9) The Department of Education may deny, suspend, or revoke a private alternative program registration consistent with OAR 581-021-0073.

(10) No registered private alternative school/program shall be owned by or employ an individual who is not of good moral character and reputation.

(a) Upon review by the Department, the Superintendent may find a person not to be of good moral character and reputation when the person:

(A) Has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that involves the illegal use, sale or possession of a controlled substance, or that involves any sexual offense, or any violent offense;

(B) Has been convicted of an offense involving fraud or misrepresentation, or has committed fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit or has committed unfair, deceptive, or unlawful trade practices regulated by the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act (ORS 646.605-646.652); or

(C) Is currently subject to suspension or revocation under OAR 581-021-0073.

(b) The Superintendent shall not make a finding that a person is not of good moral character and reputation solely for the reason that the person has been convicted of a crime, but shall consider the relationship of the facts that support the conviction and all intervening circumstances as they relate to the specific occupational standards and requirements.

(11) As of the effective date of this rule, the Private Alternative Education Standards adopted by the State Board of Education December 5, 2002, are rescinded and replaced by sections (2)-(5) of this rule.

581-021-0073. Denial, suspension, or revocation of registration of private alternative program/school procedure.

(1) A registration applied for or issued under OAR 581-021-0072, Registration of Private Alternative Programs/Schools, may be denied, suspended, or revoked or renewal thereof denied, if:

(a) the private alternative program/school fails to comply with the requirements of OAR 581-021-0072;

(b) the program or its agents intentionally or knowingly make false, deceptive, inaccurate, or misleading representations of fact in any oral, written, visual, or electronic presentation in connection with the registration under OAR 581-021-0072; or

(c) requested information is not furnished when required.

(2) Suspension of private alternative school/program registration may be for a period of up to one year from the time of the suspension.

(3) Revocation of private alternative school/program registration will be for a period of one year from the time of the revocation.

(4) Consistent with ORS 336.631, a school district may not contract with or distribute public school funds to a private alternative program whose registration has been denied, suspended, or revoked under this rule. A contract with a private alternative program must provide that non-compliance with a statute or rule, or suspension or revocation of registration under this rule will result in termination of the contract.

(5) Denial, suspension or revocation of private alternative education school/program registration may be appealed under the provisions of ORS 183.484.

581-022-2505. Alternative education programs.

(1) Sections (2)(9) of this rule apply to each public or private alternative education program approved by a school district board on or after July 1, 2007. For the purposes of this rule, the term "program" includes "school."

(2) In order to provide innovative and more flexible ways of educating children, school districts may establish alternative education options within the public school system.

(3) School districts must adopt policies and procedures for the approval and at least annual evaluation of public and private alternative education programs under ORS 336.615-336.665 (Alternative Education Programs) that receive public funds. Those policies and procedures must provide that:

(a) The district's approval and at least annual evaluation must require that a public alternative program complies with all state statutes, rules and federal law applicable to public schools;

(b) Before contracting with or distributing any public school funds to a private alternative education program, the district must document that:

(A) The program is registered with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) under the provisions of OAR 581-021-0072 by receiving a copy of the Department's written notice that the program's registration is approved for the current school year;

(B) The ODE has assigned the private alternative program an institution identification number;

(C) Before contracting with or distributing any public school funds to any private alternative education program for special education services identified in a child's IEP, the program is approved by the Department in compliance with OAR 581-015-2270;

(D) The program complies with the individual education plan for each student who is eligible to receive special education services;

(E) An education plan and education profile that meet the requirements of OAR 581-022-2000 are designed and implemented with each student in the program;

(F) The education plan includes criteria for determining if, when, where, and how the student may transition from the alternative program;

(G) A transportation plan is in place ensuring that the program is accessible to each student approved for placement in the program;

(H) The program assists the district in meeting its comprehensive K-12 instructional program in compliance with OAR 581-022-2030;

(I) The program assures that it provides an instruction based on academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education and that students participate in district and state assessments of achievement for the grade level(s) the program serves;

(J) The program assists students in earning diploma credits consistent with OAR 581-022-2000, 581-022-2010 and 581-022-2020;

(K) The program collects and reports to the district each student's local and state assessment, attendance, behavior, graduation, dropout, and other data required by the district and the state;

(L) Student data is included in the district's at least annual evaluation of the program;

(M) The program complies with federal law; and

(N) If applicable, the private alternative education program is in compliance with its existing district contract.

(4) The contract between a school district and a private alternative education program must state that non-compliance with a rule or statute under this rule (OAR 581-022-2505) will result in the termination of the contract, and suspension or revocation of registration by the Department will terminate the district's contract with the private alternative program and that the private alternative education program's annual statement of expenditures is reviewed in the district's' evaluation in accordance with ORS 336.635(2).

(5) School districts shall adopt policies and procedures to approve placing students in district approved public alternative education programs and district approved private alternative education programs. Such policies and procedures must ensure that:

(a) Students placed in alternative education programs are those whose educational needs and interests are best served by participation in such programs and will include:

(A) Students identified pursuant to ORS 339.250:

(i) Who are being considered for suspension or expulsion pursuant to ORS 339.250;

(ii) Who have been suspended or expelled pursuant to ORS 339.250;

(iii)) Whose attendance patterns have been found to be so erratic that the students are not benefiting from the regular educational program; or

(iv) Who have had a second or subsequent occurrence within any three-year period of a severe disciplinary problem;

(B) Students identified pursuant to ORS 329.485 and OAR 581-022-1110(5) who do not meet the standards or who exceed all of the standards at any benchmark level;

(C) Students admitted to the district pursuant to ORS 339.115 who have not yet turned 21 prior to the start of the school year and who need additional instruction to earn a diploma in compliance with OAR 581-022-2000;

(D) Students whose parents or legal guardians apply for the student's exemption from compulsory attendance on a semiannual basis as provided in ORS 339.030 and OAR 581-021-0076; and

(E) Others who are individually approved for placement consistent with the district's board policies regarding the placement;

(b) Placement of a student in a public or private alternative education program may be made only if:

(A) The student is a resident of the district and the district has legal responsibility for the student's education consistent with ORS 327.006(7);

(B) After assessing the student's needs and interests and consulting with the parent or guardian, the district determines that the student is not benefiting, has not benefited, or will not benefit from attendance in other district schools or programs;

(C) The alternative program is determined by the district to best serve the student within local and state academic standards; and

(D) Placement in the program is made consistent with the student's education plan pursuant to OAR 581-022-1120(3)(a) and (b) and 581-022-2000(3) and with district policies and procedures;

(c) Placement in a public or private alternative education program must be made with the approval of the student's resident school district and attending school district; and

(d) Payment to private alternative education providers must be the actual cost of the program or an amount at least equivalent to 80 percent of the district's estimated current year's average per student net operating expenditure, whichever is less.

(6) A school district must adopt policies and procedures for notification of students, parents or guardians of students of:

(a) The law regarding alternative education programs;

(b) The availability of existing alternative education programs; and

(c) The procedures for students, parents, or guardians of students residing in the district to request the establishment of new alternative education programs.

(7) School districts must include opportunities for participation by educators, community members, and parents or guardians in the development of policies and procedures under this rule.

(8) School districts must have policies and procedures in place to ensure that, for the purposes of making claims for state school funds;

(a) Students enrolled in a public school district and receiving instruction in the district's comprehensive planned K12 curriculum consistent with OAR 581-022-2030 and who are individually placed by the school district in an alternative education programs are accounted consistent with 581-023-0006(7);

(b) Students supplementing home or private schooling by attending part-time and receiving less than comprehensive education from the district are accounted consistent with OAR 581-023-0006(6)(a);

(c) Students receiving online instruction are accounted consistent with reporting guidelines published in the Oregon Student Personnel Accounting Manual, and

(d) Activities claimed for state school funds and credits awarded in the alternative education program consistent with OAR 581-023-0008 are approved by the district and by the contract between a private alternative program and the district.

(9) School districts must have policies and procedures in place to ensure that data for each student in public and private alternative education programs are included in district reporting as required by ODE.

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