The following provisions apply to the dropout prevention committee.

1. 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. 2. Membership The dropout prevention committee shall be composed of the following members: A dropout prevention committee may increase its membership by majority vote.

   1. A. A member of the school board selected by that board;

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

   2. B. A school administrator selected by the superintendent;

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

   3. C. A teacher and a school counselor selected by the school administrative unit's teacher organization;

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

   4. 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).]

   5. E. A school attendance coordinator from the district selected by the superintendent;

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

   6. F. A high school student selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E;

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

   7. G. A dropout selected by the dropout prevention committee members selected in paragraphs A to E; and

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

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

   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

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

   [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RPR).]

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

   1. A. The dropout prevention committee shall:

      1. (1) Study the problem of dropouts and truancy and the need for alternative education programs, kindergarten to grade 12;
      2. (2) Make recommendations for addressing the problems; and

      3. (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).]

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

      1. (1) Reasons why students drop out of school;
      2. (2) Maintenance of continuing contacts with recent dropouts in order to extend opportunities for alternative education programs, counseling and referral;
      3. (3) Education of teachers and administrators about the dropout problem;
      4. (4) Use of human services programs to help dropouts;
      5. (5) The school administrative unit's policies on suspension, expulsion and other disciplinary action; and

      6. (6) Discriminatory practices and attitudes within the school administrative unit.

         [PL 2007, c. 667, §7 (AMD).]

   3. C.

      [PL 1989, c. 415, §29 (RP).]

   [PL 2011, c. 614, §19 (AMD).]

6. 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. 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).]

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).