Adult students are targeted

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005 | 8:06 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Public and charter high schools would no longer receive state support for students older than 20 under a regulation to be considered by the state Board of Education.

Keith Rheault, state superintendent of public instruction, said Monday it was recently discovered that some schools, mostly charter schools, were admitting students as old as 23.

"There's always been a question of how long the state should pay," Rheault said.

He said older students should enroll in adult education classes offered in every school district in the state. The state provides $15 million for the programs, which offer adult high school diplomas and qualify students for entrance to a community college or university.

The state provides a basic guarantee of more than $4,400 per student per year to public and charter schools.

The board will consider the rule change at its Dec. 3 meeting in Las Vegas.

The regulation would prohibit school districts from receiving support for any student who is older than 20 on Sept. 30 of the school year. It does not apply to special education students, and the superintendent can grant exceptions to the rule.

The age limit was computed by figuring the oldest kindergarten pupil would be 7 years old. Add the years from the first through the 12 grades, plus one year allowance for a student who repeats a year, results in a maximum age of 20 on Sept. 30, the day when the school enrollment is figured for state support.