§5103. Dropout prevention committee

The following provisions apply to the dropout prevention committee.   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

1.  Committee.  Each superintendent, with school board approval, shall annually establish a separate dropout prevention committee for each individual school unit under the superintendent's supervision.

[PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

2.  Membership.  The dropout prevention committee shall be composed of the following members:

A. A member of the school board selected by that board;   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

B. A school administrator selected by the superintendent;   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

C. A teacher and a school counselor selected by the school administrative unit's teacher organization;   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

D. A parent selected by the unit's organized parent group, or, if no organized parent group exists, by the school board;   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

E. A school attendance coordinator from the district selected by the superintendent;   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

F. A high school student selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E;   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

G. A dropout selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E; and   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

H. A community resident of the district selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E.   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (NEW).]

A dropout prevention committee may increase its membership by majority vote.

[PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

3.  Terms and vacancies.  Members shall serve in accordance with policy established by the school board.

[PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

4.  Chair.  The dropout prevention committee shall select a chair from among its members.

[PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

5.  Responsibilities.  The following provisions apply to responsibilities of the dropout prevention committee.

A. The dropout prevention committee shall:

(1) Study the problem of dropouts and truancy and the need for alternative education programs, kindergarten to grade 12;

(2) Make recommendations for addressing the problems; and

(3) Submit a plan of action to the school board, in accordance with section 4502, subsection 5, paragraph L-1.   [PL 2011, c. 614, §19 (AMD).]

B. The dropout prevention committee shall consider the following when developing its plan:

(1) Reasons why students drop out of school;

(2) Maintenance of continuing contacts with recent dropouts in order to extend opportunities for alternative education programs, counseling and referral;

(3) Education of teachers and administrators about the dropout problem;

(4) Use of human services programs to help dropouts;

(5) The school administrative unit's policies on suspension, expulsion and other disciplinary action; and

(6) Discriminatory practices and attitudes within the school administrative unit.   [PL 2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD).]

C. [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RP).]

[PL 2011, c. 614, §19 (AMD).]

6.  Annual report.  The dropout prevention committee shall meet at least annually to review its plan and to make recommendations to the school board.

[PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

7.  Department assistance.  The department shall provide technical assistance to a dropout prevention committee on request to the Office of Truancy, Dropout Prevention and Alternative Education.

[PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR). RR 2001, c. 1, §24 (COR). PL 2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 614, §19 (AMD).