72-3904. Same; administration of program by board of regents; powers and duties of the board; fees; admittance to program; summer academies.
(a) The state board of regents shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the provisions of this act and, subject to appropriations therefore, shall:
(1) Provide for establishment and operation of the Kansas academy of mathematics and science program by a postsecondary educational institution designated by the board;
(2) establish guidelines and procedures for operation of KAMS and for selection of academically talented pupils who apply for admission to KAMS;
(3) prescribe the curriculum of KAMS, including coursework in mathematics through calculus II, chemistry, biology, physics, computer science, English and history. The course of study for KAMS pupils shall be subject to the approval of the state board of education and shall be designed to meet both the high school graduation requirements and the requirements for an associate of arts or an associate of science degree. The state assessment scores of academically talented pupils in KAMS shall be included in the state assessment scores of the school district which such pupil last attended, but nothing herein shall preclude the use of such assessments by KAMS. Solely for the purpose of admission to KAMS, an academically talented pupil shall not be required to comply with the requirements of K.S.A. 76-717, and amendments thereto; and
(4) establish tuition and fees for academically talented pupils attending the KAMS program. For academically talented pupils who are enrolled in a Kansas school district, such tuition and fees, other than those fees which are regularly charged to high school pupils, shall be paid by the school district where such pupil is enrolled, but shall not exceed an amount equal to base state aid per pupil. All academically talented pupils shall be responsible for the payment of any fees regularly charged to other pupils enrolled in high school. Tuition and fees charged to pupils who are not enrolled in a Kansas school district may exceed the amount charged to pupils who are enrolled in a Kansas school district. Academically talented pupils who are not enrolled in a Kansas school district shall be responsible for the payment of all tuition and fees.
(b) The guidelines and procedures for the operation of KAMS shall address:
(1) Selection and admission of academically talented pupils on the basis of mathematics or science career interests, standardized tests scores, transcripts, teacher evaluations, essays, family commitment, personal interviews and other such factors as the board identifies;
(2) selection of faculty and faculty qualifications;
(3) research, laboratory and field trip activities;
(4) extracurricular activities;
(5) college and career counseling services;
(6) college credit to be awarded;
(7) preparation and utilization of manuals to be provided to high school counselors for use in advising academically talented pupils;
(8) computers and software needed;
(9) ways and means of encouraging and facilitating parental involvement in KAMS; and
(10) manner and method of publicizing KAMS and acquainting academically talented pupils and their parents with the benefits to be gained by attending KAMS.
(c) The procedure for selecting academically talented pupils for admission to KAMS shall provide for admission of 20 academically talented pupils selected on a congressional district basis with no more than five pupils from each of the four congressional districts and 20 other academically talented pupils selected on a statewide basis. If there are fewer than five academically talented pupils who apply for admission to KAMS from any one of the four congressional districts, academically talented pupils applying from the other Kansas congressional districts may be substituted therefore, but congressional district balance shall be maintained to the extent possible. The board of regents shall have the authority to expand the number of academically talented pupils and to authorize admission of nonresident academically talented pupils and international academically talented pupils as well as additional Kansas residents. Any such expansion of the number of Kansas residents pupils shall maintain the same proportions as provided above for congressional districts and selections on a statewide basis. At least 3/4 of the total number of academically talented pupils enrolled in KAMS shall be Kansas residents.
Admittance to KAMS shall be determined solely pursuant to rules and regulations of the state board of regents. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the admittance of a gifted pupil to KAMS or the inclusion of KAMS admittance as a part of a gifted pupil's IEP.
(d) The board shall have authority to aid regent institutions in developing short-term summer academies and shall include in its budget request funds for operating such academies. The governor shall include funding therefor in the governor's budget report.
History: L. 2006, ch. 86, § 2; L. 2008, ch. 118, § 3; L. 2012, ch. 173, § 2; June 7.