(1) The general assembly finds that it is imperative that school districts and public schools receive adequate advance notice of changes in data submission requirements to enable them to effectively comply with the new requirements. The general assembly further finds that the department must allow school districts and public schools the necessary time in which to comply with changes in data submission requirements in order to ensure that the school districts and public schools provide accurate data.

(2) The department shall provide to school districts, public schools, and vendors notice of new federal or state data submission requirements or changes to existing federal or state data submission requirements within one business day after receiving the new or changed requirements. The department shall notify school districts, public schools, and vendors of new or changed federal or state data submission requirements and communicate any other pertinent information through an electronic mail list developed by the department to which school districts, public schools, and vendors may subscribe. The department shall also conduct informational meetings that allow school districts, public schools, and vendors to ask questions and receive technical support to ensure accuracy and efficiency in data submission.

(3) (a) To improve the accuracy of submitted data and minimize inaccurate data submissions and errors in data submitted by school districts and public schools, the department shall update data reporting requirements on the department website on an annual basis. The department shall ensure that the department website is updated annually by April 1 with all changes to state or federal data reporting requirements made since the preceding April 1. No later than the following July 1, school districts and public schools shall comply with the changes to state or federal data reporting requirements that are included in the April 1 update.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) to the contrary, if federally required or state-required timelines for implementing data reporting requirements conflict with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), the department, the school districts, and the public schools shall comply with the federally required timelines.

(4) (a) To assist the department, school districts, and public schools in exercising reasonable management over data collection and submission activities, following the enactment of legislation that alters data collection requirements, the state board shall promulgate rules to implement the changes in accordance with a timeline that ensures the rules are effective by April 1 following the effective date of the legislation. Each school district and public school shall reformat its data systems by the July 1 following enactment of the rules.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) to the contrary, if federally required or state-required timelines for implementing data reporting requirements conflict with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), the state board, the school districts, and the public schools shall comply with the federally required timelines.