Relating to compulsory education, including by modifying provisions related to absenteeism and truancy policies adopted by school districts and school attendance requirements related to children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are engaged in military service

This bill relates to compulsory education, including by modifying provisions related to absenteeism and truancy policies adopted by school districts and school attendance requirements related to children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are engaged in military service. Current law requires the board of directors of a public school district to adopt a policy related to absenteeism and truancy. The bill provides that this policy must allow for excused absences due to illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, religious observances, and preapproved educational opportunities. The policy also must define what an unexcused absence is, the criteria the board of directors will use to determine whether an absence is unexcused, and the penalties associated with unexcused absences. Additionally, the policy must include general attendance requirements. Also, the policy must describe the interventions the board of directors may use if a student becomes chronically absent. The bill requires the board of directors of a public school district to review attendance data and make modifications to the policy described when appropriate. Current law requires the parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of a child who is of compulsory attendance age to cause the child to attend public school or an accredited nonpublic school, or place the child under competent private instruction or independent private instruction, during a school year.24 (religious groups exempted from school standards). The bill adds additional exemptions for children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are engaged in military service.1C provides that the county attorney of the county in which the public school’s or accredited nonpublic school’s central administrative office is located is to be responsible for the enforcement of Code chapter 299 (compulsory education).12 requires notices to be sent to county attorneys and either parents, guardians, or legal or actual custodians, if a child is not an emancipated minor, or the child, if the child is an emancipated minor, when a child becomes chronically absent.12 also requires that if a child is absent from school for at least 15 percent of the days or hours in a grading period, a school official is required to initiate a school engagement meeting with the child and, if the child is not an emancipated minor, with the child’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian.12.1C.