79-769. Focus programs; focus schools; magnet schools; authorized; requirements.

(1) Any one or more member school districts of a learning community may establish one or more focus programs, focus schools, or magnet schools. If included as part of the diversity plan of a learning community, the focus school or focus program shall be eligible for a focus school and program allowance pursuant to section 79-1007.05.

(2) Focus schools, focus programs, and magnet schools may be included in pathways across member school districts pursuant to the diversity plan developed by the learning community coordinating council pursuant to section 79-2104.

(3) If multiple member school districts collaborate on a focus program, focus school, or magnet school, the school districts shall form a joint entity pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act for the purpose of creating, implementing, and operating such focus program, focus school, or magnet school. The agreement creating such joint entity shall address legal, financial, and academic responsibilities and the assignment to participating school districts of students enrolled in such focus program, focus school, or magnet school who reside in nonparticipating school districts.

(4) For purposes of this section:

(a) Focus program means a program that does not have an attendance area, whose enrollment is designed so that the socioeconomic diversity of the students attending the focus program reflects as nearly as possible the socioeconomic diversity of the student body of the learning community, which has a unique curriculum with specific learning goals or teaching techniques different from the standard curriculum, which may be housed in a building with other public school programs, and which may consist of either the complete education program for participating students or part of the education program for participating students;

(b) Focus school means a school that does not have an attendance area, whose enrollment is designed so that the socioeconomic diversity of the students attending the focus school reflects as nearly as possible the socioeconomic diversity of the student body of the learning community, which has a unique curriculum with specific learning goals or teaching techniques different from the standard curriculum, and which is housed in a building that does not contain another public school program;

(c) Magnet school means a school having a home attendance area but which reserves a portion of its capacity specifically for students from outside the attendance area who will contribute to the socioeconomic diversity of the student body of such school and which has a unique curriculum with specific learning goals or teaching techniques different from the standard curriculum; and

(d) Pathway means elementary, middle, and high school focus programs, focus schools, and magnet schools with coordinated curricula based on specific learning goals or teaching techniques.

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