ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2008 State Policies / Activities

Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

The following summary includes policies enacted in 2008. This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. To view the documents, click on the blue triangle next to the topic of interest. To view all, press the button located at the top labeled "Expand All."

Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].

State Status/Date Level Summary
+ Accountability
+ Accountability--Measures/Indicators
+ Accountability--Reporting Results
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions
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+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Play
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+ Attendance
- Attendance--Truancy
ILSigned into law 12/2008P-12Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if a code violation involves a municipal ordinance regulating truants, the hearing date must be 7 to 40 days after the violation is reported. Increases minimum child age for which certain truancy provisions apply from 10 to 13.

Provides that local officials or authorities that enforce, prosecute, or adjudicate municipal truancy ordinances or that work with school districts to address
truancy problems are designated as (i) part of the juvenile justice system, established by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, and (ii) "juvenile authorities" as defined in the Illinois School Student Record Act. Authorizes a district to disclose student attendance records to juvenile authorities if the district determines that the disclosure will enhance the juvenile justice system's ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records are released. Also provides that a
district may make such a disclosure only if the juvenile authority certifies in writing to the district that the information will not be disclosed, without the student's parent prior written consent, to any other individual or entity, except as otherwise provided under state law. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB2743lv.pdf
Title: S.B. 2743
Source: www.ilga.gov

CAVetoed 09/2008P-12Requires a public school, school district, and county office of education that issues a device that uses radio frequency identification for the purpose of recording attendance or establishing or tracking the location of a pupil to notify and obtain written consent from the pupil's parent or guardian before the device may be issued to the pupil. Requires such a school, district or county office to ensure that the privacy of the pupil under state and federal law is protected.
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm
Title: S.B. 29
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov

LASigned into law 07/2008P-12Revises provisions related to habitual truancy and habitual tardiness. Requires a student's parent to enforce the student's attendance at the school to which the student is assigned. Requires a school principal or designee to provide a parent with written notification upon the student's third unexcused absence or unexcused occurrence of being tardy, and to hold a conference with such student's parent. Requires the student's parent to sign a receipt for such notification. Establishes fines and penalties for parents of habitually truant or habitually tardy students in grades K-8.

Defines "tardy" for purposes of this section as including leaving or checking out of school unexcused prior to the regularly scheduled dismissal time at the end of the school day but not including reporting late to class when transferring from one class to another during the school day.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=502040
Title: H.B. 1133
Source: www.legis.state.la.us

NHSigned into law 06/2008P-12Establishes a committee to study the truancy laws; provides for membership and compensation, duties, chairperson and quorum, and report of findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the House Clerk, the Senate Clerk, the Governor and the State Library by a certain date.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2008/HB1161.html
Title: H.B. 1161
Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us

COSigned into law 04/2008P-12Requires the State Board of Education to adopt guidelines for the standardized calculation of unexcused absences of students; requires a school district to report annually to the department concerning the number of students who are habitually truant; requires the department to post this information on the Internet; allows a school district to include truant students when identifying students who are at risk of suspension or expulsion from school; allows for grants for services to serve truant students.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/A22AB294A072C406872573A700643FE1?open&file=1336_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1336
Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us

KYSigned into law 04/2008P-12Defines "nonoffender" as a child alleged to be dependent, neglected, or abused and who has not been otherwise charged with a status or public offense. Specifies that "status offenses" by a minor include beyond the control of the school or parents, habitual truancy and tobacco and alcohol offenses. Prohibits a nonoffender or child in violation of a statute or local ordinance pertaining to curfew from being detained in a secure juvenile detention facility or a juvenile holding facility. Allows a status offender or alleged status offender to be detained in a secure juvenile detention facility, a juvenile holding facility, or in a nonsecure setting approved by the Department of Juvenile Justice, for up to 48 hours pending the child's next court appearance. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/08RS/HB384/bill.doc
Title: H.B. 384
Source: www.lrc.ky.gov

MDSigned into law 04/2008P-12Requires a county board of education to require elementary schools with certain truancy rates to implement a positive behavioral interventions and support program or certain behavior modification programs in collaboration with the State Department of Education under certain circumstances; requires certain schools to expand certain programs under certain circumstances; clarifies language.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/bills/hb/hb0285t.pdf
Title: H.B. 285; S.B.96
Source: http://mlis.state.md.us/

MSSigned into law 03/2008P-12Relates to youth detained in juvenile detention centers; requires Youth Detention Staff to notify School Districts if a detained child misses one or more days from school due to such child's detainment.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2008/pdf/HB/0300-0399/HB0348SG.pdf
Title: H.B. 348
Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us

WASigned into law 03/2008P-12Courts must remit fifty percent of the fines collected in truancy court judgements against parents (who allow their children to skip school unexcused) to the child's school district.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202008/6398.SL.pdf
Title: S.B. 6398
Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature

+ Background Checks
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+ Business Involvement
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