ORS Chapter 327 — State Financing of Early

ORS 327.108. Post-graduate scholar programs; use of State School Fund moneys. (1) As used in this section, post-graduate scholar means a student who: (a) Has been in grades 9 through 12 for more than a total of four school years; and (b) Has satisfied the requirements for a high school diploma or a modified diploma as provided in ORS 329.451. (2) A school district may establish a program under this section to allow: (a) A post-graduate scholar who satisfies the requirements of subsection (3) of this section to: (A) Enroll in courses at a community college that are part of a course of study approved by the school district and that may lead to a certificate or diploma; (B) Enroll in the courses described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for one school year after the post-graduate scholar has satisfied the requirements for a high school diploma or a modified diploma as provided in ORS 329.451; and (C) Have the school district pay the costs incurred for the courses described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, including tuition, fees and books. (b) A school district that satisfies the requirements of subsection (4) of this section to receive and expend moneys distributed from the State School Fund under ORS 327.013 for the purpose of paying the costs described in paragraph (a)(C) of this subsection. (3) A post-graduate scholar qualifies to participate in a program established under this section if the post-graduate scholar: (a) Has completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, if eligible to file the application; (b) Is not eligible for a grant under the Oregon Promise program described in ORS 341.522 because of failure to earn the minimum cumulative grade point average, or submitted a complete application for a grant under the Oregon Promise program by the established deadline but did not receive a grant; (c) Is not eligible for a federal aid grant that is equal to or more than the average cost of tuition and fees at a community college, as determined by the Department of Education after consultation with the Director of the Office of Student Access and Completion; and (d) Retains a legal residence within the boundaries of the school district through which the post-graduate scholar satisfied the requirements for a high school diploma or a modified diploma. (4) A school district may receive and expend moneys distributed from the State School Fund under ORS 327.013 for a program established under this section if the school district meets all of the following criteria: (a) Has a policy for the program that is adopted by the school district board and that describes: (A) The goals of the program, including target high school graduation rates for underserved students; (B) Minimum requirements for grade point average, attendance and participation in regular in-person meetings with school district staff to monitor student progress; (C) The manner by which the results of the program will be measured and monitored; and (D) The courses of study that are approved by the school district for the purpose of this section. (b) Enters into a written agreement with the community college that has a service area within which the school district is located. (c) Has dedicated staff to provide support services to post-graduate scholars, including regular in-person meetings to monitor student progress that occur at least twice each month. (d) Ensures that a majority of students from the school district who are enrolled in courses at a community college meet at least one of the criteria identified in this paragraph. The student: (A) Is not a post-graduate scholar; (B) Has received an extended diploma or a certificate for passing an approved high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test; (C) Was enrolled in an alternative high school program within the preceding 12 months; (D) Is, or will be, a first-generation graduate of high school; (E) Is, or has been, a child in a foster home; (F) Is, or has been, placed in a facility or an education program by a court; (G) Is homeless; (H) Is a parent; or (I) Was identified as eligible for free or reduced price lunches within the preceding 12 months. (5) Notwithstanding ORS 327.013, the weighted average daily membership assigned for each post-graduate scholar shall be adjusted as follows: (a) By subtracting 0.25 from the average daily membership assigned for each post-graduate scholar participating in the program established under this section; and (b) Without adding any amounts identified in ORS 327.013 (1)(c)(A). (6) For purposes of this section, a school district may not counsel or assist a student to delay receiving a high school diploma or a modified diploma for the purpose of participating in a school-sponsored, post-secondary education program. (7) Nothing in this section: (a) Prohibits a school district from receiving or expending moneys related to the education of post-graduate scholars that are not received or expended for purposes of this section, as long as the school district does not receive or expend State School Fund distributions under ORS 327.013 for those purposes. (b) Requires a post-graduate scholar to accept or use any federal grant moneys to offset costs of tuition, fees or books incurred by a post-graduate scholar at a community college. (c) Requires a school district to add or extend existing bus routes or other transportation services for post-graduate scholars. Any transportation costs incurred by a school district to add or extend existing bus routes or other transportation services are not considered approved transportation costs for the purposes of ORS 327.013. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits post-graduate scholars from using existing bus routes or transportation services provided by the school district. (8) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, a post-graduate scholar may not accept or use any federal grant moneys to offset costs of tuition, fees or books incurred by a post-graduate scholar at a community college. (9) A school district may receive or expend moneys distributed from the State School Fund under ORS 327.013 for post-graduate scholars who enroll in courses at a community college only if the post-graduate scholars are enrolled in the courses as part of a program established under this section.