(1) As used in this section, ‘post-graduate scholar’ means a student who:

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(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. [2016 c.109 § 2; 2017 c.66 § 32; 2017 c.726 § 16]