Bill would set tuition rates for students attending other districts' high schools

A district without a high school through grade 12 would pay tuition for eligible students attending another district's public high school. This applies to students who live in a district that does not offer high school through grade 12. A student must have completed the highest grade offered in the home district and attend an accredited public high school in the same or an adjoining county. The home district must also provide transportation under the referenced state law.

The district a student attends would calculate tuition using the per-student cost of the grade-level group that includes that school. This calculation sets tuition paid by the home district for a student attending a qualifying public high school in another district. The calculation divides the group's costs by its average daily student attendance. The costs may include teachers' wages, incidental purposes, bond payments and interest, maintenance, and replacements. If districts disagree about the tuition amount, the state board of education makes the final decision. Students may choose a public school subject to this section's limits.

The district a student attends would give its tuition rate to the home district before March 1 for the next school year. This applies to the rate charged by the district the student attends and paid by the student's home district. If the receiving district does not provide the rate by March 1, the current rate applies. The rate is for the next school year and must be provided before March 1.