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HF 446

A bill for an act relating to the open enrollment of children receiving educational instruction and course content delivered primarily over the internet, and including applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Mohr

HF 446 aligns open enrollment deadlines for online learners with traditional students, impacting parents and school districts by streamlining the enrollment process.

Tabled until future meeting.
#children #education #internet #openenrollment #schooldistricts #students
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Bill Summary · HF 446

Summary of HF 446: Open Enrollment for Online Education

Bill Number: HF 446
Introduced On: February 18, 2025
Status: Tabled until future meeting
Classification: Bill
Subject Areas: Children, Education, Internet, Open Enrollment, School Districts, Students

Purpose and Intent

HF 446 aims to amend existing legislation regarding the open enrollment process for children receiving educational instruction primarily through online platforms. The bill seeks to clarify and modify the deadlines and requirements for parents or guardians wishing to enroll their children in public schools outside their resident school districts for online learning.

Key Provisions

  1. Amendment of Current Code:

    • The bill proposes to strike subsection 17 of section 282.18 of the Code 2025, which currently exempts certain online learners from the standard open enrollment deadlines.

  2. Applicability:

    • The provisions of this bill will apply to all applications and notifications related to open enrollment submitted on or after the effective date of the bill.

  3. Open Enrollment Deadlines:

    • Under the current law, parents or guardians must notify both the district of residence and the receiving district of their intent to enroll their child by specific deadlines:
      • March 1 of the preceding school year for students entering grades 1-12.
      • September 1 of the current school year for students entering kindergarten or for prekindergarten students enrolled in special education programs.

Impact

  • Who is Affected:

    • The bill primarily affects parents and guardians of children who are enrolled in online learning programs and wish to open enroll their children in a different school district.
    • School districts will also be impacted as they will need to adhere to the revised open enrollment process and deadlines.

  • Potential Outcomes:

    • By removing the exemption for online learners from the open enrollment deadlines, the bill may streamline the enrollment process and ensure that all students, regardless of their mode of education, adhere to the same timelines.

Legislative Actions

  • February 18, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to the Education Committee.
  • February 20, 2025: Subcommittee formed (Members: Gehlbach, Gjerde, Johnson, C.) and scheduled a meeting.
  • February 25, 2025: Bill tabled until a future meeting.

Conclusion

HF 446 represents a significant shift in the open enrollment process for online education, aiming to create a more uniform approach to enrollment deadlines. As the bill is currently tabled, further discussions and potential amendments may occur in future legislative sessions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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