167.019. Placement decisions, agencies to consider foster child's school attendance area--right to remain in certain districts--course work to be accepted--graduation requirements--rulemaking auth

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

167.019. Placement decisions, agencies to consider foster child's school attendance area--right to remain in certain districts--course work to be accepted--graduation requirements--rulemaking auth

Placement decisions, agencies to consider foster child's schoolattendance area--right to remain in certain districts--coursework to be accepted--graduation requirements--rulemakingauthority.

167.019. 1. A child-placing agency, as defined under section210.481, RSMo, shall promote educational stability for foster care childrenby considering the child's school attendance area when making placementdecisions. The foster care pupil shall have the right to remain enrolledin and attend his or her school of origin pending resolution of schoolplacement disputes or to return to a previously attended school in anadjacent district.

2. Each school district shall accept for credit full or partialcourse work satisfactorily completed by a pupil while attending a publicschool, nonpublic school, or nonsectarian school in accordance withdistrict policies or regulations.

3. If a pupil completes the graduation requirements of his or herschool district of residence while under the jurisdiction of the juvenilecourt as described in chapter 211, RSMo, the school district of residenceshall issue a diploma to the pupil.

4. School districts shall ensure that if a pupil in foster care isabsent from school due to a decision to change the placement of a pupilmade by a court or child placing agency, or due to a verified courtappearance or related court-ordered activity, the grades and credits of thepupil shall be calculated as of the date the pupil left school, and nolowering of his or her grades shall occur as a result of the absence of thepupil under these circumstances.

5. School districts, subject to federal law, shall be authorized topermit access of pupil school records to any child placing agency for thepurpose of fulfilling educational case management responsibilities requiredby the juvenile officer or by law and to assist with the school transfer orplacement of a pupil.

6. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in thissection shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject toall of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and ifany of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536,RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul arule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemakingauthority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2009, shall beinvalid and void.