From the ECS State Policy Database Attendance

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. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary CA Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 Prohibits a public school from denying enrollment or readmission to a pupil solely on the basis that he/she has had contact with the juvenile justice system. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1088_bill_20120919_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 1088 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 07/2012 P-12 Provides a pupil who is a foster child who remains in his/her school of origin has met the residency requirements for school attendance (pre-existing requirements provided a student who is a foster child meets residency requirements if the student attends a school in the district in which his/her foster home is located). http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1573_bill_20120713_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 1573 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov OH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Provides that when a student enrolls in a school operated by a school district, a school official with responsibility for admissions must provide the student's parent, during the admissions process, with a copy of the most recent public accountability report card. Pages 95-96 of 592: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_Y.pdf Title: S.B. 316 - Public Accountability Report Card at Student Enrollment Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us NH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Revises the legal residency requirements for purposes of school attendance for children of divorced parents and children whose parents share decision making responsibility pursuant to a parenting plan. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/HB1325.html Title: H.B. 1325 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ MA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Provides definitions of military terms and provides that this legislation applies to active duty members of the uniformed services, members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for a period of 1 year after medical discharge or retirement, and members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of 1 year after death. Requires schools to provide to parents official (or unofficial) records to students for transfer purposes. Requires receiving schools to request official student records from a student's previous school, which should be furnished within 10 days. Provides that students have 30 days to to obtain any immunizations required by the receiving state. Provides that students be allowed to continue enrollment at the grade level in the receiving state that is equal with the grade level from the local education agency in the sending state at the time of transition, regardless of age. When a student transfers before or during the school year, the receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the student in educational courses based on the student's enrollment in the sending state school or educational assessments conducted at the school in the sending state if the courses are offered and space is available. This does not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued enrollment of the student in the courses. Requires the receiving state to initially provide comparable services to a student with disabilities based on: (i) the student's current individualized education program; (ii) the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. section 794; and (iii) title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. sections 12131-12165. The receiving state is required to make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or title II plan, to provide the student with equal access to education. Provides that local education agency administrative officials shall have flexibility in waiving course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for placement in courses or programs offered under the jurisdiction of the local education agency. Provides that a student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, may be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the local education agency superintendent to visit with that parent or legal guardian on leave or preparing for or returning from deployment. http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02254 Title: S.B. 2254 Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ LA Adopted 05/2012 P-12 Amends §907, "Secondary Class Times and Carnegie Credit," and §1103, "Compulsory Attendance" to accommodate the newly developed Louisiana Seat Time Waiver (LSTW). §907 permits districts to submit applications to the department of education for a waiver of the instructional time requirement for Carnegie credit. Requires the waiver application to contain a brief description of the program and an assurance that all other requirements for Carnegie credit and graduation requirements will be met. Pages 80-81 of 199: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1205/1205.pdf Title: LAC 28:CXV.907 and 1103 Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov VA Vetoed 05/2012 P-12 Allows a child receiving kinship care from a close relative to enroll in the school division where the kinship care provider resides. The bill also allows local school divisions to require one legal parent and the kinship care provider to sign affidavits detailing the kinship care arrangement as well as a power of attorney authorizing the close relative to make educational and medical decisions regarding the child. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+SB217ER+pdf Title: S.B. 217 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ IL Adopted 05/2012 P-12 Extends the School Success Task Force established during the 96th General Assembly and adds a member to the Task Force representing City of Chicago School District 299. Directs the School Success Task Force to submit a report before December 31, 2012. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HJR/PDF/09700HJ0067lv.pdf Title: H.J.R. 67 Source: www.ilga.gov AZ Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Limits the window during which the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) can conduct Average Daily Membership (ADM) audits to three years from the time the monitoring or audit activity begins; Allows ADE to adjust funding for a school district or charter school that was overpaid or underpaid during the audit window if ADE issues those findings within two years of the beginning of monitoring or audit activity; Requires the correction of errors in the calculation of state aid or budget limits for a school district or charter school that are discovered within the previous three years, rather than the previous year. Revises the method for calculating ADM from one that relies on counting the total enrollment of students on four dates each year to one that counts the total enrollment of each school day through the first 100 or 200 days in session, as applicable. Specifies that high school students are classified as either full-time or fractional students based on the number of classes they take, each of which, if taught each school day for the minimum number of days required in a school year, would meet for a minimum of 123 hours per year, or the equivalent. Adjusts the transportation support level to provide additional support to school districts that elect to offer 200 days of instruction, rather than 180. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/2r/laws/0357.pdf Title: S.B. 1456 Source: azleg.gov GA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Requires that declarations of intent and attendance records for home study programs be submitted to the department of education rather than local school superintendents; authorizes department to provide for electronic submittal of such records. Provides that notice by local school systems to parents relating to unexcused absences may be made by U.S. mail. Requires a district to send a notice to a parent or guardian via certified mail, return receipt requested, prior to to any action to commence judicial proceedings to impose a penalty for violating truancy provision. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127589.pdf Title: H.B. 39 Source: www.legis.ga.gov MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Provides clarification on the district of residence for a homeless pupil, such that the pupil resides in the district where the parent or guardian resides unless parental rights have been terminated, the parent lives out of state or is an inmate at a correctional facility or halfway house. For students in this situation their district of residence will be the district the student resided when the qualifying event occured. Allowes the Commissioner of Education to determine residence in the event of a dispute. Provides that serving districts or charter schools are responsible for transporting homeless pupils to and from their districts of residence. [Article 1, Sec. 1, Subd. 2] Allows a homeless student to continue to enroll in a nonresident district if his/her parent or guardian moves to another district, without the approval of the nonresident district or resident district. [Article 1, Sec. 13, Subd. 2a] Repeals a provision that required, for all school purposes, a homeless pupil be a resident of the school district that enrolls the pupil. [Article 1, Sec. 34] https://www.revisor.mn.gov/data/revisor/law/2012/0/2012-239.pdf https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=127A.47 Title: H.F. 2949 Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/ GA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Adopts the "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children." Provides for the purpose and policy of the compact. Provides for student educational records and enrollment, placement and attendance, eligibility, graduation, and state coordination services. Creates the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Provides for the members of the interstate commission and their service. Provides for an executive committee and its membership and duties. Provides for the commission's powers, duties, organization, and operations. Provides for oversight, enforcement, and dispute resolution. Provides for financing of the interstate commission. Provides for member states, an effective date, and amendments; provides for withdrawal and dissolution; provides for binding effect and other laws. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127877.pdf Title: S.B. 227 Source: www.legis.ga.gov GA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Clarifies that provisions for child's entry into kindergarten and 1st grade for a child who was a legal resident of one or more states two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia also apply to children residing in one or more countries two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia. Pages 3-4 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf Title: H.B. 706 - Age for Kindergarten or First Grade Entry for Children Moving from Abroad Source: www.legis.ga.gov NE Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Changes provisions relating to compulsory attendance. Retains upper age of 16 but lays out an explicit process and requirements for early withdrawal by a parent. http://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Slip/LB996.pdf Title: L.B. 996 Source: http://nebraskalegislature.gov WY Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Provides for an interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children. Facilitates enrollment and placement of children of military families. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Enroll/SF0078.pdf Title: S.F. 78 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 From bill summary: Includes spending time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position, as a type of excused absence. Requires that absences granted pursuant to these provisions be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_387_bill_20111008_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 387 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 From bill summary: Requires a school district to accept a wide range of documents and representations from the parent or legal guardian of a pupil living with his or her parent or legal guardian as reasonable evidence that the pupil meets specified residency requirements, including, but not limited to, property tax payment receipts, rental property contract, lease, or payment receipts, utility service contract, statement, or payment receipts, pay stubs, voter registration, correspondence from a government agency, or a declaration of residency executed by the parent or legal guardian of a pupil. If an employee of a school district reasonably believes that the parent or legal guardian of a pupil has provided false or unreliable evidence of residency, authorizes the school district to make reasonable efforts to determine that the pupil actually meets the residency requirements. Specifies that it not be construed as limiting access to pupil enrollment in a school district as otherwise provided by state and federal statutes and regulations. Repeals provisions (1) providing that any school district that is adjacent to an international border may accept a wide range of documents and representations from the parent or guardian of a pupil for purposes of establishing residency in a school district, as specified, and (2) requiring those school districts to make reasonable efforts to determine whether a pupil meets the residency requirements if any employee of such a school district reasonably believes that the parent or guardian of the pupil has provided false or unreliable evidence of residency. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0201-0250/ab_207_bill_20111003_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 207 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Provides that at the time of annual enrollment or at any time during the school year, a school district or a recognized non-public school serving any of grades K-12 must provide, either on its standard enrollment form or on a separate form, the opportunity for the individual enrolling the student to voluntarily state whether the student has a parent or guardian who is a member of a branch of the U.S. armed forces and who is either deployed to active duty or expects to be deployed to active duty during the school year. Requires school districts and recognized non-public schools to report this enrollment data to the state board of education. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/97/PDF/097-0505.pdf Title: H.B. 2870 Source: www.ilga.gov IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Directs the court, when issuing a stalking no contact order, to weigh specified considerations when the petitioner and the respondent attend the same public or private K-12 school, including any continuing physical danger or emotional distress to the petitioner. Permits the court to order the respondent to accept a transfer or change of placement or program, or place restrictions on the respondent's movements within the school attended by the petitioner. Provides that the respondent may not deny a transfer, change of placement, or change of program on specified grounds, including that the respondent fails or refuses to consent. Requires that a parent is responsible for transportation if a respondent is transferred to another attendance center or program. Permits the court to order the parents to take certain actions or refrain from certain actions to ensure the minor respondent complies with the order. Permits the court to hold the parents of a minor respondent in contempt for a violation of any provision of any no stalking order for conduct of the minor respondent if the parent directed, encouraged, or assisted the respondent minor in such conduct. Prohibits the court from holding a district or private school or any of its employees in civil or criminal contempt unless the school district or private or non-public school has been allowed to intervene. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/97/PDF/097-0294.pdf Title: H.B. 192 Source: CA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Until June 30, 2012, allows a county office of education, district governing board or charter school governing body to allow a student in grades 7-12 to conditionally attend school for up to 30 days if that pupil has not been fully immunized with all pertussis boosters appropriate for the pupil's age if specified conditions are met. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0601-0650/sb_614_bill_20110725_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 614 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 From bill summary: Specifically requires a representative of school, county or community mental health personnel to be appointed to a county school attendance review board. Authorizes a representative of school, county or community mental health personnel to be appointed to a local school attendance review board. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0601-0650/ab_614_bill_20110708_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 614 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Sec. 16 - Requires boards of education to provide written notice to parents that unexcused absences could result in a complaint filed with the Superior Court. Sec. 18 - Requires the State Board of Education to define ''excused absence" and ''unexcused absence." http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/Pa/pdf/2011PA-00136-R00HB-06499-PA.pdf Title: H.B. 6499 - Sec. 16, 18 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Allows the Probate Court Administrator to, within available appropriations, establish a pilot truancy clinic within the regional children's probate court for the district of Waterbury. Provides that the principal of any elementary or middle school in the Waterbury school district, or the principal's designee, may refer to the truancy clinic a parent/guardian with a child enrolled in such school who is a truant, or at risk of becoming a truant. Provides that the truancy clinic will operate for the purpose of identifying and resolving the cause of a child's truancy using nonpunitive procedures and after the initial appearance made pursuant to a summons, the participation of a parent/guardian in the truancy clinic shall be voluntary. Directs the truancy clinic to establish protocols for clinic participation and to establish programs and relationships with schools, individuals, public and private agencies, and other organizations to provide services and support for parents, guardians and children participating in the clinic. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/PA/2011PA-00177-R00SB-00982-PA.htm Title: S.B. 982 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov IN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Defines "attend" for purposes of the compulsory school attendance law. Requires school corporations to have a policy outlining both excused and unexcused absences. Bill indicates that attendance is excused only if it is in accordance with the governing body's excused absence policy. It specifies that to hold a parent accountable for an attendance violation, notice must be delivered personally to the parent. The bill also requires a superintendent or attendance officer to report a habitually absent child to the juvenile court or the Department of Child Services. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/PDF/FISCAL/SB0001.007.pdf Full text: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/SE/SE0001.1.html Title: S.B. 1--Attendance Source: http://www.in.gov/legislative/ PA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Section 1304 clarifies that districts must admit students during at least the first two weeks of school. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1352&pn=2227 Title: H.B. 1352 Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us OR Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Relating to school attendance. Requires school districts to adopt attendance notification policies and specifies the required elements. Provides options for partents to determine method of notification. Effective July 1, 2011. http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/hb3100.dir/hb3197.en.pdf Title: H.B. 3197 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us NH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Provides further detail on the procedure for resolving residency disputes. Excludes homeless children from the list of pupils whose residency can be determined by the commissioner of the department of education. Lengthens the time for determination of residency dispute by the commissioner to 30 days (from 14), except in the case where interruption of educational or related services has occurred. Allows period for determination to be extended with parental consent and provides that parents or legal guardians may submit a residency dispute for determination to the commissioner. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/SB0037.html Title: S.B. 37 Source: www.gencourt.state.nh.us HI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Makes permanent the interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children. Deletes the definition of ''test period". Deletes provisions relating to the furnishing of unofficial education records and the principal's determination of available space. Makes mandatory previously optional provisions re: a student's continued enrollment at a grade level commensurate with their grade level in the sending state (regardless of age), waiver of graduation requirements if the student has completed similar coursework elsewhere. Clarifies military representation on the state council on educational opportunity for military children within the board of education. Effective June 30, 2011. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/HB4_CD1_.HTM Title: H.B. 4 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov TX Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 From fiscal note: Generally, the criminal offenses of failure to attend school and parent contributing to nonattendance are adjudicated in justice and municipal courts. However, under current law, in counties with populations of 2 million or more (Harris and Dallas counties), an option exists to file these cases in the constitutional county court. The bill expands this option to counties with populations of 1.75 million or more adding Tarrant County to the counties so authorized. Bill text: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB00734F.pdf#navpanes=0 Fiscal note: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/fiscalnotes/pdf/HB00734E.pdf#navpanes=0 Title: H.B. 734 Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us IL Adopted 05/2011 P-12 Extends the School Success Task Force established during the 96th General Assembly. Directs the task force to submit a report by December 31, 2011. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HJR/PDF/09700HJ0007lv.pdf Title: H.J.R. 7 Source: www.ilga.gov TN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 States that a parent, guardian or other person who has control of a truant student commits educational neglect. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/SB0413.pdf Title: S.B. 413 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov TN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 States that attendance laws shall apply to remedial instruction for students who are determined to require such instruction, including summer school and after school programs. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/SB0414.pdf Title: S.B. 414 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov GA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Provides that a foster care student who attends court proceedings relating to the student's foster care must not be counted as an absence, excused or unexcused, for the day or any portion of the day missed from school. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116565.pdf Title: H.B. 314 Source: www.legis.ga.gov VT Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Among other provisions, changes the compulsory school age from 7-16 to 6-16. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf Title: S.B. 100 - Compulsory School Age Provision Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us WV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Enables West Virginia to participate as a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Establishes the West Virginia Council for Educational Opportunity for Military Children for the purpose of coordinating entities in West Virginia regarding participation in the Interstate Compact. Designates the membership and establishing powers and duties of the West Virginia Council in order to facilitate the timely enrollment of children of military families in the public schools. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2550%20SUB%20ENR.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=2550 Title: H.B. 2550 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Arizona Revised Statute 15-821 is clarified. If a child who has not reached the age of five before September 1 of the current school year is admitted to kindergarten but withdraws and re-enroll the following year allows state age to be apportioned between the two years. Continues to limit funding to one year of kindergarten. http://www.azleg.gov/legtest/50leg/1r/bills/sb1256s.pdf Title: S.B. 1256--Kindergarten Finance Source: http://www.azleg.gov/ ND Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Creates a new section that defines attendance (absence) (15.1 - 20 - 02.1). 1. To be deemed in attendance for purposes of this chapter, a student may not be absent from school without excuse for more than: a. Three consecutive school days during either the first half or the second half of a school or school district's calendar; b. Six half days during either the first half or the second half of a school or school district's calendar; or c. Twenty-one class periods. Requires each district board and the governing body of each nonpublic school to adopt a policy that: a. Defines an excused absence as any absence from school, if that absence is supported by either a verbal or written excuse supplied by the student's parent, teacher, or school administrator; and b. Articulates the type of documentation that may be requested to verify a student's absence. Does not preclude a school district or nonpublic school from withholding credit, removing a student from a course, or taking other punitive measures against a student who does not arrive in a timely fashion or who exceeds a specific number of absences, as determined by the school district or nonpublic school. Requires districts and nonpublic schools to submit data on absences. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/62-2011/documents/11-0124-04000.pdf Title: S.B. 2226 Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Authorizes parents to petition for special arrangments to address student absences prior to a student accumulating the maximum number of absences allowed under a district's attendance policy. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Bills/HB1995.pdf Title: H.B. 1995 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ VA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College Adds a fifth citizen member to the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and specifies that such member must be a representative from a military installation in Virginia. Such representative is to be appointed by the Governor. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0106+pdf Title: H.B. 1976 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ SD Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Amends statute to state that once a parent or guardian of a child files an application with a school official for excusal, the child shall be excused, without the necessity of school board action, subject to revocation as provided in this chapter. School boards of all school districts may excuse a child from public school attendance for the reasons set forth in §§ 13-27-6 and 13-27-6.1 http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2011/Bill.aspx?File=HB1133ENR.htm Title: H.B. 1133 Source: http://legis.state.sd.us CA Signed into law 10/2010 P-12 Requires initial parental notification of child's status as truant to be made using the most cost-effective method possible, including e-mail or telephone. (Previous legislation required this notification to be made by first-class mail.) Defines "conscientious effort", for purposes of defining a child as a habitual truant. (No child may be defined a habitual truant until truant three or more times per school year, and an appropriate district officer or employee has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one conference with the pupil and his/her parent.) Pages 25-26 of 52: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1610_bill_20101019_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 1610 - Truants Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 From bill summary: Requires the department of education, contingent on federal funding for this purpose and in consultation with the department of finance and the legislative analyst's office, to prepare the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) to include data on a quarterly rate of pupil attendance. Requires that CALPADS be capable of issuing to local educational agencies periodic reports on district, school, class and individual pupil rates of absence and chronic absentees. States legislative intent to support the development of early warning systems to identify and support individual pupils who are at risk of academic failure or of dropping out of school. Existing law requires the superintendent of public instruction annually to submit to the governor, the legislature, and the state board of education a report on dropouts using the data produced by CALPADS. New provision requires the report to include chronic absentee rates when that data is available. Makes implementation of the provisions regarding the inclusion of pupil attendance data in CALPADS contingent upon the appropriation of federal funds specifically for such purposes. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1351-1400/sb_1357_bill_20100930_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 1357 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 From bill summary: Defines a chronic truant as any pupil absent from school without a valid excuse for 10% or more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date, provided that the appropriate school district officer or employee has complied with specified provisions of law. Provides that a parent or guardian of a pupil in grades K-6 who is a chronic truant, who has failed to reasonably supervise and encourage the pupil's school attendance, and who has been offered language accessible support services to address the pupil's truancy, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, or by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. Provides that a parent or guardian may not be punished for a violation of both these provisions and another specified law involving criminal liability for parents or guardians of truant children. Authorizes a superior court to establish a deferred entry of judgment program, meeting specified conditions, to adjudicate cases involving parents or guardians of elementary school pupils who are chronic truants. Authorizes a deferred entry of judgment program established under the bill to refer defendant parents or guardians for services, including but not limited to case management, mental and physical health services, parenting classes and support, substance abuse treatment, and child care and housing. Authorizes the deferment of entry of judgment in these cases upon the defendant's compliance with terms and conditions set forth by the court. Requires that funding for the deferred entry of judgment program come solely from nonstate sources. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1301-1350/sb_1317_bill_20100902_enrolled.pdf Title: S.B. 1317 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Vetoed 09/2010 P-12 From bill analysis: Requires school districts to accept reasonable evidence that a pupil meets residency requirements for school attendance within the district. Specifies certain types of documents that must be considered reasonable evidence. Authorizes a school district, if a school employee believes a parent has provided false or unreliable evidence of residency, to make reasonable efforts to determine whether the pupil actually meets the residency requirements. Bill text: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1851-1900/ab_1854_bill_20100830_enrolled.pdf Governor's veto message: http://dl5.activatedirect.com/fs/distribution:letterFile/yvcee9xanplikz_files/z5mm14q1dntlzg?&_c=d|yvcee9xanplikz|z5msx9bcq0v1fm&_ce=1285799198.823394ce30a65d9a394ec66f14aac0d9 Title: A.B. 1854 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov/ GA Adopted 08/2010 P-12 Amends provisions related to student enrollment and withdrawal. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.28.pdf Title: GA ADC 160-5-1-.28 Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us NC Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Permits public school entry of child who does not turn 5 by August 31 of the school year but whose parent is an active duty member of U.S. armed forces who is the sole legal custodian of the child, and is stationed in another state, and is deployed for duty away from the permanent duty station, and child living with an adult in North Carolina as a result of deployment away would be eligible for school enrollment in the other state. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S1246v4.pdf Title: S.B. 1246 - Enrollment of Child under 5 Who Is Child of Military Personnel Source: www.ncga.state.nc.us NC Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Postsec. Community College Requires principals, community colleges and universities to authorize a minimum of two excused absences each academic year for religious observances required by the faith of a student or the student's parents; provides that the student's parents may be required to give the principal written notice of the request for an excused absence a reasonable time prior to the religious observance; mandates that the student be given the opportunity to make up any tests or other work missed due to an excused absence for a religious observance. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H357v4.pdf Title: H.B. 357 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Community College Students who are 16 to 18 years old and are enrolled in an adult education program shall be considered to be in compliance with the school attendance provisions. Defines "effective" adult education program. Eliminate the division of adult and community education within the Department of Education and transfers the responsibility to the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges. Outlines responsibilities for adult education programs by the Board of Supervisors. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722559 Title: H.B. 1055 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Prevents a city, parish, or other local public school board from denying admission or readmission to students of suitable age who resides within the geographic boundaries of the school system unless such student is legally excluded from attending school. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722519 Title: H.B. 421 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ GA Vetoed 06/2010 P-12 Requires a parent whose child is of compulsory school age and who becomes a new resident of a local school system to enroll his/her child in a public or private school within 15 days of such new residency (or by the start date of school if such new residency occurs prior to such start date). Provides that failure to do so constitutes a violation of this Code section. Authorizes local school system officials or other persons to make and file a report to the appropriate enforcement agency regarding any parent whose child (1) is subject to mandatory attendance requirements but not attending school or (2) has accumulated 30 days of unexcused absences. Requires local school systems to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of mandatory attendance violations. Bill text: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb239.pdf Governor's veto message: SB 239 ensures that families moving from one school district to another register their children for school in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the language of a floor amendment seeking to safeguard homeschooling families instead accomplished the opposite; as written, the bill would actually require homeschooling families to enroll their children in a public or private school upon moving to a new school district. Because of this unintended consequence, I VETO SB 239. From http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_160096907_160291947,00.html Title: S.B. 239 - Section 2 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us TN Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Authorizes a prosecutor to allow parents or guardians of children violating truancy laws to attend parent education training and parent-teacher conferences as an alternative to criminal prosecution. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30 http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB3246.pdf Title: S.B. 3246 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov WI Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 If a pupil attending the school district under open enrollment (OEP) is habitually truant (absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more school days during any semester) during either semester in the current school year, the school board may then prohibit the pupil from attending school in the school district under the OEP in the succeeding semester or school year. (Act No. 304) http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/SB-342.pdf Title: S.B. 342 Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us NH Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Makes various changes to the laws on truancy; provides for excused absences, parental responsibility and petitions for children in need of services. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB0154.html Title: H.B. 154 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us KY Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Requires the state board of education or any agency designated by the state board to manage interscholastic athletics to promulgate administrative regulations that permit the hiring of a nonteaching or noncertified person in a coaching position. Requires that a person employed in a coaching position be a high school graduate and at least 21 years old, and submit to a background check. Requires that the administrative regulations specify post-hire requirements for persons employed in coaching positions. Authorizes a local school board to specify post-hire requirements for personnel employed in coaching positions in addition to those specified in administrative regulations. Encourages the state board of education or any agency designated by the state board to manage interscholastic athletics to schedule athletic competitions outside the regularly scheduled school day. Permits a student on a school-sponsored athletic team competing during the school day in a regional or state tournament sanctioned by the state board or other agency designated to manage interscholastic athletics to be counted present during the days of the competition, for up to two days a year. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/HB327/bill.doc Title: H.B. 327 Source: www.lrc.ky.gov VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Clarifies that, in addition to the attendance officer, school personnel, and volunteers, the school principal or his designee is responsible for notifying parents concerning students' nonattendance at school; provides that the school principal or his designee is also responsible for arranging the conference with parents and in developing the student's attendance plan. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB196ER+pdf Title: S.B. 196 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Requires local school boards to develop policies ensuring that any student's absence because of the observance of a religious holiday be recorded as excused on the student's attendance record and that a student not be deprived of any award or of eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award or of the right to take an alternate test or examination for any which were missed because of such absence. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB361ER+pdf Title: S.B. 361 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us NE Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Children are eligible for kindergarten if they are 5 years old by July 31, beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Previously, the cutoff date was Oct. 15. The bill includes an exception for children who turn 5 between Aug. 1 and Oct. 15 if they perform adequately on a school assessment. The bill also requires school boards to adopt an assessment procedure to determine if a child is capable of kindergarten-level work. http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Final/LB1006.pdf Title: L.B. 1006 Source: http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/ IL Signed into law 01/2010 P-12 Requires the department of human services to operate a comprehensive professional development system called the Gateways to Opportunity program. Directs the department of human services to award Gateways to Opportunity credentials to early care and education, school-age, and youth development practitioners, based on a variety of professional achievements in field experience, knowledge and skills, educational attainment and training accomplishments. Specifies the Gateways to Opportunity program must identify professional knowledge guidelines that define what all practitioners working with children and youth need to know and be able to do to support children's and youth's development, school readiness and school success Provides that a child who has attended a private preschool and attended a kindergarten class at that school taught by an appropriately certified teacher, who will turn 6 on or before December 31, may attend 1st grade in a public school at the beginning of that school year, upon an assessment of the child's readiness. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB0806lv.pdf Title: H.B. 806 Source: www.ilga.gov KY Adopted 01/2010 P-12 Adds section providing definitions of: "full day of attendance" (student in attendance at least 65% of regularly-scheduled school day), "tardy" (student absent less than 35% of the regularly-scheduled school day), "half-day absence" (student absent 35-84% of regularly-scheduled school day), and "full-day absence" (student absent 85% or more of regularly-scheduled school day). According to the fiscal impact statement in the proposed rule change, "This change could increase individual local districts' average daily attendance (ADA) calculation, thus increasing SEEK [Support Education Excellence in Kentucky] payments to districts[;] however, any increases will still remain subject to the aggregate SEEK appropriation." Eliminates withdrawal code "W09" for a student who has graduated or completed a 504 plan or an individual education plan prior to the end of the school term or year. Adds the following withdrawal codes for indicating student enrollment status: W28 - student has reached the maximum age for education services without receiving a diploma or certificate of attainment C01 - student completes the school year in the school of the most current enrollment G01 - student graduates in less than 4 years G02 - student graduates in 4 years G03 - student graduates in 5 or more years G04 - studento graduates in 6 or more years NS - student completed the prior year with a C01 and was expected to enroll in the district but did not enroll by October 1 of the current year whose enrollment elsewhere cannot be substantiated. Adds that each student's ethnicity must be designated as either Hispanic/Latino or not Hispanic/Latino. Also clarifies that more than one racial codes may be applied to an individual student. Separates out "Pacific Islander" from "Asian" as a unique racial code. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/702/007/125reg.htm Title: 702 KAR 7:125 Source: www.lrc.ky.gov NV Rule Adoption 10/2009 P-12 Revises provisions governing credit granted for a specific course of study without having attended regularly scheduled classes. www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/CHAPTERS.HTMl Title: NAC 389.670 Source: www.leg.state.nv.us NV Rule Adoption 10/2009 P-12 Revises provisions governing the reasons listed in the master register of enrollment and attendance for withdrawal of a pupil. www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/CHAPTERS.HTMl Title: NAC 387.048, .215 Source: www.leg.state.nv.us CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 Amends existing law that authorizes a pupil to be excused from school for specified reasons. Includes civic engagement activities offered by a nonprofit organization or a governmental entity among the types of absences that are excused. Provides a pupil may not be excused from school when the absence is due to participation in a demonstration or political campaign. Provides participation in civic engagement activities may not exceed 10 days per academic year. Defines "civic engagement activities" as volunteering to work in a community to help address a problem or interact with the institutions of representative democracy, and provides that such activities may include volunteering at a community-based nonprofit organization, serving on a neighborhood association, tutoring or mentoring young children, testifying before the local city council or appearing before a state or federal board or committee. Specifies that civic engagement activities do not include participation in a demonstration or political campaign, and prohibits a school from excusing a pupil from school when the absence is due to participation in a demonstration or political campaign. Bill: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_796_bill_20090910_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_796_vt_20091012.html Title: A.B. 796 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov WI Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Beginning on September 1, 2011, a school board may not enroll a child in the first grade in a school in the school district, including in a charter school located in the school district, unless the child has completed 5-year-old kindergarten. Requires each school board that operates a 5-year-old kindergarten program to adopt a written policy specifying the criteria for promoting a pupil from 5-year-old kindergarten to the first grade. Requires each board to establish procedures, conditions, and standards for exempting a child from the requirement that the child complete kindergarten as a prerequisite to enrollment in the first grade and for reviewing the denial of an exemption upon the request of the pupil's parent or guardian. A child must be admitted to first grade if before either commencing or completing first grade, the child moved into Wisconsin from a state, country, or territory in which completion of 5-year-old kindergarten is a prerequisite to entering first grade and the child was exempted from the requirement to complete 5-year-old kindergarten in the state, country, or territory from which the child moved. Act No. 41. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act41.pdf Title: A.B. 119 Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us ND Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Requires teachers to notify administrators when a student is absent without an excuse. Requires administrators to investigate the absence. Provides for penalities. Unless the responsible party (parent, guardian) has made substantial and reasonable attempts to get student to attend, "Any person who fails to ensure that a child is in attendance as required by this chapter is guilty of an infraction for a first offense and is guilty of a class B misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense." http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/bill-text/JBDE0300.pdf Title: S.B. 2217 Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov ND Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Modifies 15.1-06-01. Changes the cut-off date for enrollment in grade one from September first to August first. For kindergarten, the cut-off date changes from five by September first of the year of enrollment to August first. Provides exception for children who are six by December first (changed from January 1) and who meet other readiness indicators. Schools are free, open and accessible to students who have not reached the age of 21 prior to August first (changed from September first). Effective July 2010. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/bill-text/JBCQ0300.pdf Title: H.B. 1378 Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Defines "extracurricular activity". Requires districts to provide students with up to four days of excused absence per school year for a student absence for the sole purpose of traveling out of state to participate in an enrichment activity approved by the local board of education or an extracurricular activity. Provides districts must require any such student to complete any classroom assignments that the student misses because of the absence. Specifies that if a student will be absent for four or more days due to an enrichment or extracurricular activity, a classroom teacher employed by the school district must accompany the student to provide instructional assistance. Page 1406 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3321.041 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us LA Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Spells out policies for habitual absence and tardiness of students, including penalties for violations by parents and legal guardians or custodians of such students. Addresses the crime of improper supervision of a minor as it relates to habitually absent or tardy students; penalties and minimum conditions of probation for certain violations by parents or legal custodians of such students, including fines, school or community service, attendance in parenting classes and family counseling programs, and the suspension of certain licenses. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=663977 Title: H.B. 731 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ LA Adopted 06/2009 P-12 Allows excused absences for students for visitation with a parent who is a member of the Armed Forces or the National Guard of a state and such parent has been called to active duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/lac/28v115/28v115.doc Title: LAC 28:CXV.1103 Source: http://doa.louisiana.gov/ TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Allows districts to grant excused absences for juniors and seniors visiting institutions of higher education. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB02542F.pdf Title: H.B. 2542 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Allows certain high school students to serve as election clerks. Provides an excused absence for such service. Adds new section 33.092 allowing a student election clerk to apply such time served toward a school service requirement or school project requirement, subject to local discretion. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB01134F.pdf Title: S.B. 1134 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Adds Alabama to the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, an interstate compact to address the education transition issues of children of active duty military families. Allows for the uniform treatment at the state and local district level of military children for transferring between school districts and states. Title: H.B. 438 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Provides for the transfer of students who are military dependents into a local school system. Provides that students must be placed in grade level commensurate with their grade level in the sending state at the time of transition, including in kindergarten, regardless of age. Requires local school systems to initially honor student placement in courses based on the student's enrollment in the sending state school or assessments administered at the school in the sending state, if the courses are offered, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, vocational, technical and career pathway courses. Also requires local school systems to initially honor education program placements in the sending state, including placement in English as a second language and gifted and talented programs. Directs local school systems to be flexible in waiving course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for placement in courses and programs. Allows additional excused absences for students whose parent has been called to active duty for, is on leave from or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. Directs local school systems to facilitate the opportunity for transitioning qualified military children's inclusion in extracurricular activities, regardless of application deadlines. Adds provisions related to high school course substitution, and recognition of other states' exit exams, national norm-referenced achievement tests or alternative testing to facilitate on-time graduation. Provides that if a military student transferring at the beginning or during his or her senior year is ineligible to graduate from the receiving local education agency after all alternatives have been considered, the local school system must coordinate with the sending local education agency to ensure the receipt of a diploma. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb114.pdf Title: S.B. 114 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Allows a student whose parent or guardian is employed by a school district or educational service cooperative to continue attendance at a nonresident school district in some circumstances. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1368.pdf Title: S.B. 847 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us MS Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Deletes the requirement that the school superintendent must approve student absences for medical and dental appointments. Authorizes a designee of the superintendent to report unlawful absences to the school attendance officer. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2009/pdf/HB/0500-0599/HB0525SG.pdf Title: H.B. 525 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us MD Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Prohibits a principal from suspending or expelling a student from school solely for attendance-related offenses. http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0660t.pdf Title: H.B. 660; S.B. 241 Source: http://mlis.state.md.us/ NM Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Changes terms and notice provisions of compulsory attendance policies; clarifies how unexcused absences are determined; requires reports. http://nmlegis.gov/Sessions/09%20Regular/final/SB0189.pdf Title: S.B. 189 Source: http://nmlegis.gov/ UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Adds 53A-11-1401 through -1404, collectively known as Education Policies for Military Children. Provides definitions. Allows for certain exceptions when military children transfer schools, including the use of official and unofficial education records, time periods for producing official records, age of school enrollment, immunizations and graduation provisions. Provides that tuition may not be charged a military child in the care of a non-custodial parent or other person living in a jurisdiction other than that of the custodial parent. http://le.utah.gov/~2009/bills/hbillenr/hb0194.pdf Title: H.B. 194 Source: le.utah.gov KY Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Allows a local board of education in a county identified as a federal disaster area because of Tropical Storm Ike and the severe weather storm of January and February of 2009 to request from the commissioner of education up to ten disaster days missed and require the commissioner to approve the request. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/HB322/bill.doc Title: H.B. 322 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet KY Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Relates to students of civilian military employees; provides students of civilian military employees the same rights as students of military families under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children if the parents are required to move to perform their job responsibilities, resulting in the students changing schools. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/SB39/bill.doc Title: S.B. 39 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet KY Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Requires a school principal to give up to 10 days excused school absence for children of Armed Forces servicemembers if the parent is stationed out of the country and is granted leave. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/HB124/bill.doc Title: H.B. 124 Source: www.lrc.ky.gov VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Provides for the suspension of the driver's license or learner's permit of any minor who has 10 or more unexcused absences from public school on consecutive school days. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB1826ER Title: H.B. 1826 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Provides that the sufficient cause necessary to suspend a student cannot rest solely on instances of tardiness or truancy. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB1794ER Title: H.B. 1794 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/ AR Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Ensures consistent public school attendance laws. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Bills/SB295.pdf Title: S.B. 295 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us CO Adopted 01/2009 P-12 Provides specificity for consistency in reporting attendance and truancy data across school districts and BOCES. Allows the usage these indicators to leverage resources to support the complete success of children and youth in school. http://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/NumericalSubDocList.do?deptID=4&deptName=300 Education&agencyID=109&agencyName=301 State Board of Education , Colorado&ccrDocID=3012&ccrDocName=1 CCR 301-78 RULES CONCERNING THE STANDARDIZED CALCULATION FOR COUNTING STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY Title: 1 CCR 301-78 Source: http://www.sos.state.co.us IL Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 Amends 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 WY Adopted 10/2008 P-12 These emergency rules amend the existing rules related to the school foundation program.  The emergency rules provide additional definitions for terms used throughout the rules.  The emergency rules add a new section 8 which provides a process for a school district to apply to the department of education for a modification of a school's grade configuration.  The emergency rules amend the process for attendance taking by the schools and require that attendance be taken every period in middle schools, junior high schools and high schools.  The emergency rules provide regulations for the calculation of average daily membership for distance education students and require that school districts choose one of three methods of calculation of average daily membership for all part-time students.  The emergency rules provide for the adjustment of prior school year average daily membership if a new school opens, a district changes boundaries, a school's grades served are reconfigured or a district moves programs and students from one school to another.  The emergency rules require certain data from the school facilities commission and provide a method for the calculation of groundskeeper full time employee resources based on the lesser of actual site acreage or school facilities commission guidelines except for certain land acquired on or before July 1, 1997. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ARULES/ER08-23.htm Title: Chapter 8 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ARULES/ER08-23.htm CA Vetoed 09/2008 P-12 Requires a school district to accept any documents and representations from the parent or guardian of a pupil that reasonably provide evidence that the pupil meets the residency requirements. Provides examples of the types of documents or representations that are acceptable to include pay stubs, utility service contracts, rental contract, lease or payment receipts, voter registration, and other evidence using the state as a permanent address. http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm Title: S.B. 1735 Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Revises 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 NH Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Establishes 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 LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Provides that a child whose parent is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard and such parent has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment shall be granted up to five excused absences from school per school year for the child to visit with his or her parent. Provides that upon returning to school, the student must be permitted to complete all class assignments, including all tests, missed while the child was absent. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=497665 Title: H.B. 200 Source: www.legis.state.la.us AZ Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Relates to notification of the parents of a student who is enrolled in an elementary school of an unexcused absence; relates to notifying parents of such students of their responsibility to any absence of the pupil and to notify the school in advance or at the time of the absence; authorizes a high school school to refuse to admit a child who has already graduated from another high school with a recognized diploma. Chapter No. 267 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2368h.pdf Title: H.B. 2368 Source: http://www.azleg.gov MI Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Establishes that a student's absence because a parent, legal guardian or sibling is being deployed or returning from active duty is an excused absence. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/publicact/pdf/2008-PA-0141.pdf Title: S.B. 747 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ VT Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Prohibits employers and schools from penalizing employees and students who are absent in order to attend town meeting; provides an employee shall have the right to take unpaid leave from employment for the purpose of attending a town meeting provided the employee notifies the employer prior to the meeting date; provides a student of voting age will have the right to attend a town meeting and school will not penalize or report student as a truant. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/S-045.HTM Title: S.B. 45 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Defines "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 MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Requires 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/ CO Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Requires 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 MS Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Relates 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 IN Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Allows certain law enforcement officers to inspect student attendance records and to enforce the attendance laws and requires an affidavit against a parent to enforce the compulsory school attendance law be filed in a court with jurisdiction in the county in which the student resides. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/PDF/HE/HE1234.1.pdf Title: H.B. 1234 Source: http://www.in.gov/legislative LA Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Makes changes to Bulletin 741 - Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators: 1103: Allows students in danger of failing due to excessive absences to make up missed time in class sessions held outside the regular class time. The make-up sessions must be completed before the end of the current semester and all other policies must be met. 2323: Allows students who have failed a course to take a proficiency exam for that course. Prior policy did not allow students who had taken a course to take a proficiency exam to earn credit for the course. 2324: Adds section allowing districts to implement credit recovery programs for students who have failed a course. Note from Rules: These two revisions are the result of a recommendation from the High School Redesign Commission that policy changes be considered to help students who are failing or who are in danger of failing to recover credit. The revision to Section 1103 assists students who are in danger of failing due to excessive absences. The revision to Section 2323 and the addition of Section 2324 provide ways for students to recover credit after they have failed a class. http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0711/0711.doc Title: LAC 28:CXV.1103, 2323, and 2324 Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov TX Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 House Bill 2455 amends the Education Code to require a school district to grant an excused absence for a student ordered to make a court appearance. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB02455F.pdf Title: H.B. 2455 Source: http://www.legis.state.tx.us NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Inserts clarifications to the exceptions to the compulsory school attendance statute. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/HB0087.html Title: H.B. 87 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Allows a parent or guardian of twins or other multiples to request a classroom placement for the children. Provides that a parent or guardian of twins or other multiples in elementary school may request that the twins or multiples be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms. Provides that this request shall be granted unless the principal decides that a different placement is necessary. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/SB0078.html Title: S.B. 78 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Raises from 16 to 18 the age for compulsory school attendance and provides a procedure for a pupil who is at least 16 years of age to obtain an attendance waiver from school. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/SB0018.html Title: S.B. 18 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us OR Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Defines "Person in parental relationship" as an adult who has physical custody of a child or resides in the same household as the child, interacts with the child daily, provides the child with food, clothing, shelter and incidental necessaries and provides the child with necessary care, education and discipline. "Person in parental relationship" does not mean a person with a power of attorney or other written delegation of parental responsibilities if the person does not have other evidence of a parental relationship. Also, this bill authorizes a district to admit an otherwise eligible person who is not receiving special education and who has not yet attained 21 years of age prior to the beginning of the current school year if the person is shown to be in need of additional education in order to receive a diploma. http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/sb0200.dir/sb0215.en.pdf Title: S.B. 215 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us NC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Modifies school admission requirements. Moves cut-off date for enrollment to August 31 from October 16. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H150v0.html Title: H.B. 150 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us TN Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Adds a new section: A pilot project of mandated attendance in an alternative school for students who have been suspended shall be established by the department for the school year 2007-2008 in any county having a metropolitan form of government and a population in excess of five hundred thousand (500,000) according to the 2000 federal census. Such pilot project shall be subject to alternative school staffing and space availability. The department shall monitor and review the pilot project and shall report the results of the review to the senate and house education committees and the state board of education by February 16, 2009. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0455.pdf Title: H.B. 2138 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Strengthens the truancy laws by making it a Class E crime for parents who fail to take corrective measures for truant children from kindergarten to grade 6. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?ID=280022908&LD=454&Type=1&SessionID=7 Title: H.B. 353 Source: Maine Legislature NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. Expands the annual reports of accountability information to include the rate of pupils who drop out of school in grades 6, 7 and 8. Requires the State Board to prescribe alternative criteria that a pupil may satisfy to receive a standard high school diploma if that pupil passes the mathematics and reading subject areas of the high school proficiency examination but has not passed the examination in its entirety after taking the examination at least three times before 12th grade. Provides that a pupil may be granted credit for a course without attending the course if he passes an examination, as prescribed by the State Board, demonstrating competency in the subject area of the course. Requires the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a policy for a pupil to be placed on academic probation and to earn credits required for high school while the pupil is completing the requirements for promotion to high school. Expands the age of compulsory school attendance to 18 years. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/SB/SB312_EN.pdf Title: S.B. 312 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Increases the time frame required for a school district to report to certain authorities, from seven to 10 days, if a student has not attended school on 10 or more days without an excuse. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/SB01161F.pdf Title: S.B. 1161 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Require a report of pupils who drop out of school in grade 8 to be included in the reports of accountability prepared by the State Board of Education and the boards of trustees of school districts. Requires the board of trustees of a school district located in a county whose population is 100,000 or more (currently Clark and Washoe Counties) to establish a school attendance council. Requires the board of trustees of each school district to establish procedures to monitor the attendance and truancy of pupils within the school district. Makes the inducement or attempt unlawful if the person knowingly induces or attempts to induce the child to be unlawfully absent from school. Clarifies that a parent or guardian may be in violation of this law if the parent knowingly induces or attempts to induce a child to be unlawfully absent from school. Authorizes the juvenile court to order the parent or guardian of the child to pay a fine if the parent or guardian knowingly induced the child to be a habitual truant. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/AB/AB485_EN.pdf Title: A.B. 485 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/ TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Permits students who are at least 21 years of age and under 26 years of age on the first day of September of any school year to be eligible for funding under the Foundation School Program for the purposes of completing the requirements for a high school diploma. Persons are not eligible if they engage in conduct that would require a disciplinary placement if the person were under the age of 21. Clarifies the eligibility for public school prekindergarten programs of certain children who are or were in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services. School districts would be prohibited from placing a student who is 21 years of age or older who has not attended school in the three preceding school years in a classroom, cafeteria, or school activity with students who are 18 years of age or younger. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB01137F.pdf Title: H.B. 1137 Source: http://www.legis.state.tx.us ME Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Concerns compulsory school attendance. This bill adds to the duties of the attendance coordinator serving as the liaison between the school and the local law enforcement agency in matters pertaining to student absenteeism. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billpdfs/LD046801.pdf Title: S.B. 155; L Source: Maine Legislature DE Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Provides for enhanced Truancy Court activities in the Justice of the Peace Court. Eliminates the need to transfer a case of contempt by a juvenile to the Family Court for adjudication when that contempt has arisen in relation to a refusal to obey an order of the Justice of the Peace Court associated with an ongoing case of truancy; provides that the Justice of the Peace Court would have full authority to adjudicate that contempt charge, including any rehabilitative measures or penalties. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis144.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+26/$file/legis.html?open Title: S.B. 26 Source: http://www.legis.state.de.us TX Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 H.B. 566 authorizes school districts to require persons who voluntarily enroll in school or voluntarily attend school after their 18th birthday to attend school until the end of the school year (to help districts reduce the number of dropouts). The bill also makes certain truancy laws applicable to these students, but does not provide for the imposition of sanctions on the parents of these students. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB00566F.pdf Title: H.B. 566 Source: http://www.legis.state.tx.us MT To governor 04/2007 P-12 Relates to services for individuals who are developmentally distabled, clarifies that such individuals may return to high school after graduation if they are not 19 years of age. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billhtml/HB0195.htm Title: H.B. 195 Source: http://data.opi.mt.gov WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Finds that the state's commitment to providing a basic education for all public school students under the age of twenty-one should continue until a student earns a diploma. Therefore the legislature intends to expand high school completion programs at community and technical colleges for older students who have not yet received a diploma but are eligible for state basic education support. Provides that, in accordance with this act, each community or technical college shall make available courses or a program of study, on the college campus, designed to enable students under the age of twenty-one who have completed all state and local high school graduation requirements except the certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual achievement to complete their high school education and obtain a high school diploma. The governor vetoed a section petaining to a path to recieve an alternate diploma that would be given without passage of the state's exit exam. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/1051.SL.pdf Title: H.B. 1051 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Provides for high school redesign. Directs the department of education to establish a readiness assessment system to measure the readiness of every New Mexico high school student for success in higher education or a career no later than the 2008-2009 school year. Raises the compulsory school age in the state and changes high school graduation requirements and creates a middle and high school literacy initiative. Eliminates certificates of employment and part-time schools as they related to previous compulsory school-age law. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0561.pdf http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/HB0584.pdf Title: H.B. 584/S.B. 561 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us/ CO Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Changes the minimum age for compulsory education from seven to six years, on or before August 1 of each year. Compulsory attendance ages therefore would be six through seventeen years. http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/9396E573D25C481487257251007B74B0?Open&file=016_enr.pdf Title: S.B. 16 Source: Colorado Legislature SD Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Increases the compulsory attendance age for school attendance from 16 to 18, unless the child has graduated or is excused per certain provisions. http://www.legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2007/bills/SB199enr.pdf Title: S.B. 199 Source: http://www.legis.state.sd.us SD Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Amends 13-28-2 to read: Any child who is five years old on the first day of September is eligible for enrollment in kindergarten during that school year. Any child who is six years old by September first is eligible for enrollment in first grade during that school year. Any child who transfers from another state may proceed in a continuous educational program without interruption.Deletes the provision that any child in a kindergarten or prekindergarten program who was in compliance with the statutory eligibility dates in effect at the time of his enrollment (5 by September 1) may proceed in a continuous educational program without interruption.Deletes provision that any child who is six years old by September first is eligible for enrollment in first grade during that school year. Deletes provision "Any child under the age of five is eligible for admittance to a nursery school." http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2007/bills/SB33SED.pdf Title: S.B. 33 Source: http://legis.state.sd.us UT Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Allows exceptions to the minimum number of instructional hours and schools days per year for individual students and schools; requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to ensure that accurate records of daily student attendance and school entrance and completion are maintained in each school, as well student disability status; requires each school to contract with an independent auditor to review attendance/completion records; provides new eligibility standards for funding students, including electronic high school students; provides new guidelines for indicating the high school completion or exit status of each student who leaves the state's public education system; provides new guidelines for the student identification and tracking system. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2006/b20061001.pdf (see pg. 15) Title: R277-419 Source: http://www.rules.utah.gov/main/ CA Signed into law 08/2006 P-12 Amends existing law that specifically authorizes a court to order a person who is convicted for failing to comply with compulsory attendance laws to immediately enroll the child in the appropriate school or educational program and provide proof of enrollment to the court. Deletes the limitation date, thereby extending indefinitely that authority of a court to order or punish a person for failing to comply with the compulsory attendance laws. Title: A.B. 2181 Source: California Legislature GA Adopted 07/2006 P-12 Clarifies rules regarding the following: Remedial education for students in grades 6-12: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/4/5/01.pdf Charter schools: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/4/9/04.pdf Class size: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/5/1/08.pdf Student attendance: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/5/1/10.pdf Title: GAC 160-4-5-.01; -4-9-.04; -5-1-.08, -.10 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Vetoed 05/2006 P-12 Increases the age range for compulsory public school attendance in Baltimore City to between the ages of 5 years old and 18 years old; requires persons with legal custody or care and control of children who reside in Baltimore City and who are between the ages of 5 years old and 18 years old to see that the children attend school as required. Title: S.B. 741 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Establishes a Task Force to Study Raising the Compulsory Public School Attendance Age to 18; requires the Task Force to evaluate and make recommendations regarding certain issues by a certain date and to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Chapter No. 449 http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/bills/hb/hb0036e.pdf Title: H.B. 36; SB 741 Source: Maryland Legislature TN Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Concerns Education; revises the age of children to whom the compulsory school attendance requirements for blind children apply from between seven and 16 years of age to between six and 17 years of age. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB3917.pdf Title: S.B. 3917 Source: Tennessee Legislature CO Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Concerns the age specifications relating to compulsory school attendance. Every child who has attained the age of seven years and is under the age of seventeen years (changed from 16), except as provided by this section, must attend public school for at least the following number of hours during each school year: (I) One thousand fifty-six hours if a secondary school pupil; or (II) Nine hundred sixty-eight hours if an elementary school pupil during each school year; except that in no case shall in a grade other than kindergarten; (III) Nine hundred hours if a full-day kindergarten pupil; or (IV) four hundred fifty hours if half-day kindergarten pupil. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2006a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/1617BA178EE19B4F872570CA0062EC9C?Open&file=073_enr.pdf Title: S.B. 73 Source: Colorado Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 If a student decides to leave school at age 16, several procedures must be followed. This bill adds the following requirements: The student's guidance counselor or other school personnel must conduct an exit interview with the student to determine the reasons for the student's decision to terminate school enrollment and actions that could be taken to keep the student in school. The student must be informed of opportunities to continue his or her education in a different environment, including, but not limited to, adult education and GED test preparation. Additionally, the student must complete a survey in a format prescribed by the Department of Education to provide data on student reasons for terminating enrollment and actions taken by schools to keep students enrolled. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 (Section 18) Source: Florida Legislature GA Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Provides that a student whose parent or legal guardian is in military service is granted up to 5 excused absences per school year to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to deployment or while on leave. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb984.pdf Title: H.B. 984 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, www.legis.state.ga.us TN Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Excuses children from school on days of deployment and return from deployment for military service of a parent or guardian. Provides that if a student's parent, custodian, or other person with legal custody or control of a student is a member of the United State Armed Forces, including a member of a state national guard or a reserve component called to federal active duty, a public school principal shall give the student and excused absence for one day and an additional day when the member returns from deployment. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB3379.pdf Title: S.B. 3379 Source: Tennessee Legislature LA Adopted 04/2006 P-12 Establishes procedures for hospital/homebound instruction for a student who is enrolled in regular or special education and who, as a result of health care treatment, physical illness, accident, or the treatment thereof, is temporarily unable to attend school. http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/0604/0604RUL.pdf Title: LAC 28:CXV.1103 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, www.doa.state.la.us WV Rule Adoption 04/2006 P-12 Amends rules regarding half-day attendance and specific ages for compulsory school attendance. Identifies the specific number of days in which a parent, guardian or custodian of children with excessive unexcused absences must attend a school-based conference, and defines satisfactory attendance related to the revocation of drivers' licenses. http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p4110_ne.pdf Title: Title 126, Series 81 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IN Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Allows a district to authorize the absence and excuse of a student who attends any educationally related nonclassroom activity. Requires any educationally related nonclassroom activity and nonclassroom activity to meet all the following conditions:         (1) Is consistent with and promotes the educational philosophy and goals of the school corporation and the state board.         (2) Facilitates the attainment of specific educational objectives.         (3) Is a part of the goals and objectives of an approved course or curriculum.         (4) Represents a unique educational opportunity.         (5) Cannot reasonably occur without interrupting the school day.         (6) Is approved in writing by the school principal. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2006/HE/HE1347.1.html Title: H.B. 1347 Section 14 Source: www.in.gov/legislative/bills WV Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Clarifies the summons or warrant and complaint process when a parent, custodian or guardian fails to comply with compulsory attendance laws and a magistrate finds probable cause to believe that a parent, custodian or guardian has committed the offense. Allows more than one parent, guardian or custodian to be charged in a complaint. Initial service of a summons or warrant issued is to be attempted within ten calendar days of receipt of the summons or warrant and subsequent attempts at service shall continue until the summons or warrant is executed or until the end of the school term during which the complaint is made, whichever is later. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2006_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb631%20enr.htm Title: S.B. 631 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us KY Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Clarifies that a school district may advance a child through the primary program if he or she is at least five but less than six years old; allows the child to be classified as other than a kindergarten student for purposes of funding if the student is determined to have acquired the academic and social skills taught in kindergarten as determined by local board policy. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/06RS/SB35/bill.doc Title: S.B. 35 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 02/2006 P-12 Provides that any person who knowingly makes a false statement concerning the residency of a child for the purpose of avoiding tuition charges shall be liable to the school division in which the child was enrolled as a result of such false statements for tuition charges for the the student was enrolled in the school division. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+HB1222ER Title: H.B. 1222 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us NV Adopted 01/2006 P-12 Establishes rules regarding maximum age for a high school pupil in Nevada -- to allow for basic support apportionment for pupils who are over the normal age of a high school senior where an 18, 19 or 20 year old may need an extra year to complete required credits for high school graduation. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/register/2005Register/R211-05A.pdf Title: NAC 387.345 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us MD Adopted 01/2006 P-12 Requires a county superintendent to allow a child who is a Maryland resident to attend a public school free of charge in a county other than the county where a child is domiciled with the child's parent or legal guardian, provided certain criteria are met. Title: COMAR 13A.08.05.01 thru .07 Source: Lexis/Nexis, StateNet LA Emergency Rule Adoption 10/2005 P-12 Re-establishes Truancy Assessment and Service Centers to identify, assess and intervene to ensure K-6 students attend school regularly. While established under TANF provisions, rules specify that eligibility for services is not limited to needy families. http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/0510/0510EMR.pdf Title: LAC 67:III.5539 Source: www.doa.state.la.us IL Signed into law 08/2005 P-12 Provides that by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, the State Board of Education shall by rule establish a parental participation pilot project to provide grants to the lowest performing school districts to help these districts improve parental participation through certain activities, including parent-teacher conferences, open houses, family nights, volunteer opportunities, and family outreach materials. Requires the pilot project to be for a period of at least 4 school years. Allows a school district to apply to the State Board for the establishment of a parental participation pilot project for the entire district or for a particular school or group of schools in the district. Requires the state board to select 4 school districts in specified geographic areas to participate in the pilot project. Requires the board, when selecting participants, to consider the following criteria: (1) whether the district or school has any of the following problems and whether those problems can be mitigated or addressed through enhanced parental participation: (A) low rates of satisfactory performance on state assessments; (B) high rates of low-income students, limited English proficient students, dropouts, chronically truant students, and student mobility; or (C) low student attendance rates; and (2) the methods the district or school will use to measure the progress of the pilot project in the district or school. Requires each participating district or school to establish a parental participation committee to assist in developing and implementing the parental participation pilot project. Requires the committee to develop an academic improvement plan that details how the pilot project should be implemented in the participating district or school, and to make recommendations to the local board on specified matters. Requires local boards to submit annual progress reports to the state board detailing the effect of the pilot project on the district or school. Provides for a review and final evaluation of the project. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Parental Participation Pilot Project Fund as a special fund in the state treasury. Repeals these provisions on December 31, 2010. Effective immediately. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0507 Title: S.B. 10 Source: www.ilga.gov IL Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Provides that if a pupil's change of residence is due to the military service obligation of a person who has legal custody of the pupil, then, upon the written request of the person having legal custody of the pupil, the residence of the pupil is deemed for purposes of enrollment, for the duration of the custodian's military service obligation, to be the same as the residence of the pupil immediately before the change of residence caused by the military service obligation. Provides that a school district is not responsible for providing transportation to or from school for a pupil whose residence is determined under these provisions. Effective immediately. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0309 Title: H.B. 156 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Amends 2728 and 2729 of Title 14 to clarify that when both parents are listed on a student's school records and both parents are Delaware residents, they each are responsible for their child's school attendance. Reflects the view of the Truancy Task Force that both parents should be charged in this situation, not just the parent with whom the student primarily resides, since residence does not necessarily reflect legal custody. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis143.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+109/$file/0801430123.doc?open Title: H.B. 109 Source: http://www.legis.state.de.us CA Vetoed 06/2005 P-12 Under existing law, a county school attendance review board may be established in each county to propose and promote the use of alternatives to the juvenile court system for pupils with school attendance problems or school behavioral problems. Existing law authorizes county school attendance review boards to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary for their own government and to enable them to carry out their duties and powers. This bill provides that those rules and regulations may include a procedure for the submission of any recommendation of the board to the appropriate school district personnel. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_656_bill_20050617_enrolled.pdf Title: A.B. 656 Source: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov TX Signed into law 05/2005 Postsec. From bill analysis: Requires an institution of higher education to excuse a student from attending classes or engaging in other required activities, including examinations, in order for the student to participate in active military service to which the student is called. Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules to establish the maximum period for which a student may be excused under this section. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01630&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Title: H.B. 1630 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us NV (H) APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR. CHAPTER 47. 05/2005 P-12 AN ACT relating to education; authorizing the board of trustees of a school district to accommodate certain pupils who are physically or mentally unable to attend school in the policy for attendance of pupils at school. Title: H.B. 76 Source: StateNet GA Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Repeals the authority for the Governor to suspend all or any part of compulsory attendance requirements because of a riot, insurrection, public disorder, disturbance of the peace, natural calamity, or disaster. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb26_HB_26_AP_5.htm Title: H.B. 26 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Provides an excused absence from school for the one day a student is serving as a page for the general assembly. States that the student may be allowed additional instructional assignment days at the discretion of the school district. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/hb2461.pdf Title: H.B. 2461 Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us NM Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Relates to compulsory school attendance; requires that school district attendance policies use withdrawal of students pursuant to the definition of membership in the Public School Finance Act only after exhausting efforts to keep students in educational settings. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/05%20Regular/bills/house/HB0955.html Title: H.B. 955 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Clarifies that the public schools in a school divisions shall be free to children in foster care living in that school division in the same manner as provided to homeless children and youth pursuant to the McKinney-Vento Act and state law. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+CHAP0343 Title: S.B. 1006 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us VA Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Creates a Class 4 misdemeanor charge for making a false statement concerning the residency of a child in a particular school division or school attendance zone. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+CHAP0178 Title: H.B. 2382 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Establishes that any student enrolled in a public school who is over 18 but not 21 years of age and who has been absent from school without valid excuse for three or more days, or tardy without valid excuse on three or more days, is a truant. Reduces from three to two the number of times a student must be reported truant during a one-year period to be identified as a habitual truant. Deletes provision allowing student who is absent for less than half a school day to be regarded as tardy. Provides that any of the following who intentionally fails to comply with the attendance requirements set forth in KRS 159.150 must be fined $100 for the first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense: (a) A student enrolled in a public school who is at least 18 but not yet 21 years old, for whom a guardian has not been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, whether or not that student is identified as an exceptional child; or youth under KRS 157.200(1)(a) to (m); (b) A parent, guardian, or custodian of a student enrolled in a public school who has not reached his or her 18th birthday; or (c) A guardian appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction of a student who is enrolled in a public school, has been identified as an exceptional child or youth under KRS 157.200(1)(a) to (m), and is at least 18 but not yet 21 years old. Requires any person described in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) above to be informed by district staff that a public school student who has not reached his or her twenty-first birthday is subject to truancy laws. http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB72.htm Title: H.B. 72 Source: lrc.ky.gov ND To governor 03/2005 P-12 Relates to contract terms for the cross-border attendance of elementary and high school students. http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/59-2005/bill-text/FAKJ0200.pdf Title: H.B. 1194 Source: StateNet ID Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Revises the definition of a "habitual truant." Revises the provisions applicable to proceedings against parents and guardians whose children are habitual truants. Allows proceedings to be brought against any parent of a habitual truant who is found to have knowingly allowed such pupil to become an habitual truant. Identifies such parent or guardian as guilty of a misdemeanor. http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1066.html Title: S.B. 1066 Source: www3.state.id.us KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Relates to nonresident student contracts; allows two local school districts to enter into a nonresident student contract for more than one year. http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB197.htm Title: H.B. 197 Source: lrc.ky.gov SD Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Allows the Department of Education to enter into certain enrollment agreements with the State of North Dakota; compensates certain school districts for lost revenue due to the agreements. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2005/bills/HB1149enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1149 Source: http://legis.state.sd.us IL Signed into law 01/2005 P-12 Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code to allow a child with a disability who has completed four years of high school to participate in the graduation ceremony and receive a certificate of completion under specified circumstances. Further amends the School Code to make changes to the ballot forms for school board elections. Amends provisions concerning enrollment of pupils below or above the compulsory school age; specifies circumstances under which a school or school district may deny enrollment to a student 17 years of age or older for one semester for failure to meet minimum attendance or academic standards. Defines "reenrolled student". Changes eligibility age for graduation incentives program to "below the age of 20". http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300HB0757enr&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=1162&DocNum=757&GAID=3&Session= Title: H.B. 757 Source: StateNet NM Rule Adoption 12/2004 P-12 Establishes rules regarding compulsory school attendance. http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/parts/title06/06.010.0008.htm Title: NMAC 6.10.8 Source: StateNet NJ To governor 12/2004 P-12 Permits municipalities to adopt school-time curfew ordinances for juveniles. Title: S.B. 155 Source: StateNet OH Rule Adoption 10/2004 P-12 Amends rules relating to the establishment of an education program for parents of truant students. OHIO REG 11546 (SN) Title: OAC 3301-47-01 Source: StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Prohibits a school district governing board from denying a charter school petition, unless it makes findings that the petition lacks a description of the procedures by which a pupil may be subject to discipline and the procedure employed by the school to safeguard the due process rights of pupils and unless it makes findings showing a lack of compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. Provides that charter schools are subject to the open meeting requirement of the Ralph M. Brown Act. Prohibits a charter school from expelling a pupil based solely on his or her academic performance. Requires a charter school to notify the governing board of the school district of residence and the county superintendent of schools within 14 days if a pupil is expelled and to notify the governing board of the school district of residence within 14 days of the last day the pupil attended school if a pupil leaves the charter school without graduating or completing the school year for any reason. Requires a charter school to provide the district of residence of a pupil who is expelled or leaves the charter school without graduating or completing the school year for any reason with a copy of the cumulative file of that pupil. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1851-1900/ab_1860_bill_20040826_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_1860_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 1860 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Section 12: Existing law deems a pupil to have complied with the residency requirements for school attendance in a school district if the pupil meets specified requirements, including, among others, that the pupil lives in the home of a caregiving adult that is located within the boundaries of that school district. Existing law contains a caregiver's authorization affidavit which, when completed and signed by a caregiver 18 years of age or older, authorizes the caregiver to enroll the minor in school and consent to school-related medical care on behalf of the minor. Under existing law, the affidavit is not valid for more than one year after the date on which it is executed. This bill would eliminate the one-year expiration date for the affidavit and would provide that the affidavit is invalid once the school, health care provider, or health care service plan receives notice that the minor is no longer living with the caregiver. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2851-2900/ab_2855_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf Signing message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/press_release/AB_2853_2855_2856_sign.pdf Title: A.B. 2855 (multiple provisions) Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Extends authorization to January 1, 2006 for a court to order a person who is convicted for failing to comply with compulsory attendance laws to immediately enroll the child in the appropriate school or educational program and provide proof of enrollment to the court. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2501-2550/ab_2525_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov GA Adopted 08/2004 P-12 Clarifies rules regarding class size, absences and excuses. Renames chapter on absences as Student Attendance. Provides definition of truant and outlines policies and procedures to reduce unexcused absences. Permits a maximum individual class size of 30 for grades 9-12 science classes for school year 2004-05. GEORGIA REG 4246 (SN). http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.08.pdf and http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.10.pdf Title: GAC 160-5-1-.08; -.10 Source: Georgia State Web site IL Signed into law 08/2004 P-12 Increases the compulsory school age from 16 to 17 years of age, with exceptions. Provides that certain provisions that apply to truant officers apply to the regional superintendent of schools or his designee in a school district that does not have a truant officer. Makes changes concerning the compliance procedure for persons who fail to send a child to school. Allows certain students to enroll in graduation incentives programs. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0858 Title: S.B. 2918 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site IL Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Amends the School Code. Allows a school or school district to deny enrollment to a student 16 years of age or older for one semester for failure to meet minimum academic or attendance standards if certain conditions are met. Requires a district to identify, track, and report on the educational progress and outcomes of reenrolled students (defined as dropouts who have reenrolled full-time) as a subset of the district's required reporting on all enrollments. Provides that a reenrolled student who again drops out must not be counted again against a district's dropout rate performance measure. Requires the State Board of Education to set performance standards for programs serving reenrolled students. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0803 Title: S.B. 2115 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site NY Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Provides that each school district shall have the power to require minors from sixteen to seventeen years of age to attend upon full time day instruction. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A01892&sh=t Title: A.B. 1892 Source: http://assembly.state.ny.us LA Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Authorizes any parish in the state, not just pre-existing pilot program parishes, to create truancy and assessment and service centers. Louisiana State University's office of social services research and development to develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation program for all parishes with truancy and assessment and service centers subject to state funding. Extends end of truancy and assessment and service center pilot program from 2005 to 2007. http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/04RS/CVT5/OUT/0000LV53.PDF Title: H.B. 1527 Source: www.legis.state.la.us AK Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Amends the required age of a child for school attendance. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HB0338Z&session=23 Title: H.B. 338 Source: Alaska Legislative Web site AR Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Establishes rules regarding mandatory attendance requirements for grades 9 - 12. http://arkedu.state.ar.us/pdf/ade%20169%20mandatory%20attendance%20req.pdf Title: ADE 169 Source: Arkansas State Web site RI To governor 06/2004 P-12 Provides that if a minor accumulates fifteen (15) unexcused absences within ninety (90) calendar days, they are ineligible for driving privileges and would provide for enforcement, notification, compliance, reinstatement and jurisdiction of this provision. This act would take effect upon passage. Title: S.B. 2594 Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/gen_assembly/genmenu.html RI Became law without governor's signature 06/2004 P-12 Would set eligibility requirements for school attendance to obtain a driver's license for minor students. This act would take effect on January 15, 2005. Title: H.B. 7397 Source: StateNet MS Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Relates to Adequate Education Program; deletes repealer on high growth school district formula. If during the year for which adequate education program funds are appropriated, any school district experiences a three percent (3%) or greater increase in average daily attendance during the second and third month over the preceding year's second and third month and the school district has requested a minimum increase of four percent (4%) in local ad valorem revenues over the previous year as authorized in Sections 37-57-104 and 37-57-105, an additional allocation of adequate education program funds calculated in the following manner shall be granted to that district, using any additional funds available to the Department of Education that exceed the amount of funds due to the school districts under the basic adequate education program distribution as provided for in this chapter: The State Department of Education shall study and develop a report to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Education by January 1, 2005, with options for legislative consideration that will insure that the Mississippi Adequate Education funds are distributed to school districts based on current year student attendance or enrollment. This subsection (4) shall stand repealed on July 1, 2006 Title: H.B. 741 Source: StateNet MD Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Authorizes the establishment of a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in certain counties; establishes that failure of children to attend school without a lawful excuse is a code violation; authorizes school officials to petition the juvenile court alleging that a child who is required under law to attend school fails to attend school without lawful excuse; requires the court to hold an adjudicatory hearing after the petition; requires a separate disposition hearing. http://mlis.state.md.us/2004rs/bills/hb/hb1443t.rtf Title: H.B. 1443 Source: StateNet KS Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Postsec. Section 1: Allows student age 16 or 17 to be exempt from compulsory attendance requirements if student is regularly enrolled in a school and is concurrently enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution. Makes provisions applicable to children from and after July 1, 1997. http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2004/2795.pdf Title: H.B. 2795 (multiple provisions) Source: www.kslegislature.org MS Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Deletes repealer on the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement. Extends the repealer on the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement within the Department of Education to July 1, 2009. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2004/pdf/HB/0600-0699/HB0663SG.pdf Title: H.B. 663 Source: StateNet NJ Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Establishes the Task Force to Study Attendance in Public Schools to study current practices within school districts in the state regarding student attendance, including, but not limited to absences, tardiness, procedures for addressing students with patterns of unauthorized absences or excessive tardiness, and to investigate what other states are doing with respect to student attendance. Introduced - 5 pages PDF Format    HTML Format Statement - AED 1/26/04 - 1 pages PDF Format    HTML Format Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill - 5 pages PDF Format    HTML Format Statement - SED 3/29/04 - 1 pages PDF Format    HTML Format Advance Law - 3 pages PDF Format    HTML Format Title: A.J.R. 68 Source: StateNet GA Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Provides for the revision of certain provisions regarding education flexibility and accountability; requires the State Board of Education to create a single state-wide accountability system by December 31, 2004; amends provisions regarding school councils; amends the history curriculum requirements; amends provisions for early intervention programs; amends provisions related to effectiveness assessments, including end-of-course assessments; amends parental notification concerning compulsory attendance requirements; requires Department of Motor Vehicle notification of students 14 years of age and older who are in violation of attendance requirements; amends student discipline policies; changes the name Office of Education Accountability to Office of Student Achievement. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/search/hb1190.htm Title: H.B. 1190 Source: Georgia Legislative Web site TN Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Requires the state board to formulate policy for attendance and transfer of students whose custodial parents reside in two local education agencies. Title: S.B. 3305 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us MS Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Provides the State Auditor with authority to establish effective and efficient policies and procedures for auditing student attendance and data in local school districts. In particular, the State Auditor will have more flexibility regarding on-site audits and authority to establish specific policies and procedures to audit the processes, accuracy, validity and procedures used by local school districts to submit electronic student data and other data to the State Department of Education. Reviews and audits shall be conducted with advance notice, except that unannounced audits may be made upon determination of the State Auditor based on complaints or valid concerns. In addition, examiners shall make every effort to work with school districts in scheduling audits in consideration of instructional activities such as statewide testing. The State Board of Education shall include reporting standards for school districts as part of the accreditation process to include penalties within the accreditation system for adverse findings resulting from reviews or audits. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2004/pdf/HB/1200-1299/HB1251SG.pdf Title: H.B. 1251 Source: StateNet NE Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 LB 868 changes the mandatory ages for compulsory education. From the fiscal note: Currently, ages are from age 7 through age 15. Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, children will be required to attend school if they will reach the age of 6 by January 1st of the current school year unless they are attending an alternative education program that will allow them to enter the first grade the following school year. Children also must attend through the age of 17 unless they have obtained a diploma, have completed an alternative education program or have reached the age of 16 and the parent or guardian has signed a waiver form. It is assumed the bill will result in a one-time increase the number of children in kindergarten in the 2005-06 school year. The bill requires children who will turn age 6 by January 1st of the next year to start school in the current year. The state department does not have statewide data on the number of age-eligible children who delay entrance to kindergarten. However, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that about 9% of age-eligible kindergarten children postpone their entrance to kindergarten each year. Using this estimate it is assumed that up to 920 more children will enter kindergarten in the public schools in the fall of 2005 than would have in the absence of the bill. (This number is derived by taking half of the public school children in kindergarten in FY03 times 9%. Delayed entrance is assumed for only half of the number of kindergarten students because the bill still allows delayed entrance for half of the 5 year olds.) The fiscal impact of additional children in kindergarten in 2005-06 will vary by school district depending upon whether the district can absorb additional students into existing classrooms without hiring teachers or expanding the number of classrooms. Due to a statewide decline in elementary membership in the last decade, this fiscal note assumes that most of the additional children will be absorbed into existing classrooms. It is assumed that very few, if any, new teachers will be hired to meet the one-time influx of additional students in kindergarten. There may be minimal additional expenses for school textbooks and materials for these students. If this is the case, then overall "need" in the state aid formula may minimally increase, two years later. The student count used in the state aid formula will increase one year later. These changes will result in a minimal shift in state aid between school districts to those districts that receive additional students, one year after the increase occurs, or in 2006-07. The 2007-08 computation of state aid will include any increased expenditures pursuant to the bill which will increase overall aid for school districts by a minimal amount. http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/legal/SLIP_LB868.pdf Title: L.B. 868 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Strengthens the mechanisms for enforcement of the compulsory school attendance law; removes the restriction on the court's use of contempt power in enforcing compulsory school attendance and parental responsibility provisions; clarifies and reinforces the court's authority to order the child or the parent, or both, into programs, such as extended day programs and summer school or other educational programs and treatment, such as counselling. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+HB1326ER Title: H.B. 1326 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Directs local school boards to notify parents of the educational rights of students who fail to graduate or who have failed to achieve the number of verified units of credit required for graduation as provided in the standards of accreditation or who have been identified as having limited English proficiency or who have been identified as disabled and receive special education of their right to a free public education through age 21. Pursuant to §§ 22.1-1 and 22.1-5, public schools are free to "persons of school age" (at least age five on or before September 30 of the school year and under 20 years of age on or before August 1). In addition, subsection D of § 22.1-5 sets forth for students for whom English is a second language the opportunity for a free public education through the age of 21. Finally, persons who have been identified as disabled who receive special education are entitled to a "free and appropriate education" through 21 years of age pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and § 22.1-213. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+CHAP0509 Title: S.B. 438 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us KY Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Requires a school principal to give a student an excused absence of up to ten days to pursue an educational enhancement opportunity of significant educational value, and provides for an appeal of a negative decision to the local board of education. Specifies that an "educational enhancement opportunity" may include an educational foreign exchange program or an intensive instructional, experiential, or performance program in English, math, science, social studies, foreign language or the arts, including programs not sponsored by the district, but may not include nonacademic extracurricular activities. A student's grades may not be adversely affected for lack of class attendance or participation. Provides for an appeal process to the district superintendent, and subsequent appeal process to local board, if an excused absence request is denied by a building principal. Bars a student from receiving an excused absence during state or district assessments, unless the principal determines that extenuating circumstances render an excused absence appropriate. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/04RS/SB80/bill.doc Title: S.B. 80 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us KY Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Provides that an exemption from compulsory attendance student may be granted to 1) a child certified by specified professionals to have a chronic physical condition that prevents or renders inadvisable attendance at school, and which is unlikely to improve substantially within a year, or 2) a student with a disability may be granted if the student's individual education plan specifies that his or her placement in home or hospital is the least restrictive environment. In the case of a child whose licensed physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, chiropractor or public health officer certifies that the child's chronic physical condition is unlikely to significantly improve within three years, the child's admissions and release committee must annually evaluate the child's condition and documentation to determine whether updated evidence is required. Updated evidence must be presented upon committee need or at least every three years. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/04RS/HB10/bill.doc Title: H.B. 10 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us VA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Excuses from compulsory school attendance requirements persons 16 through 18 years of age who are housed in adult correctional facilities and who are actively pursuing a general education development certificate but who are not enrolled in an individual student alternative education plan. Title: S.B. 404 Source: StateNet IN Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Requires a school corporation or an accredited nonpublic school to report to the local health department the percentage of student absences above a threshold determined by the department rule. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2004/HE/HE1202.1.html Title: H.B. 1202 Source: Indiana Legislative web site ME Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Requires the superintendent to send a notice to the parent of a truant informing the parent that the child is truant and the child is required by law to attend school; requires the superintendent to report the truancy of a child to the local law enforcement agency if a parent has not complied with the notice; makes it a class E crime if a parent fails to enroll a child in school. Title: H.P. 800 Source: StateNet NM Rule Adoption 12/2003 P-12 Establishes rules amending language to remove school attendance requirements for children under 18 years of age. Clarifies school attendance requirements for children 18 years of age. NEW MEXICO REG 3931 (SN) Title: NMAC 8.200.420; Section 10 Source: StateNet WI Signed into law 11/2003 P-12 Provides for the specifications for school attendance of a dispositional order for truant or habitual truant and the disclosure of juvenile court records by a juvenile court or a municipal court for children of certain age groups. Title: A.B. 62 Source: StateNet TX Rule Adoption 10/2003 P-12 Amends rules concerning student attendance accounting. Adopts by reference the 2003-2004 Student Attendance Accounting Handbook which provides student attendance accounting rules for school districts and charter schools. TEXAS REG 86427 (SN) Title: 19 TAC 129.1025 Source: StateNet OH Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Requires the department of education, by January 1, 2004, to provide to the General Assembly a feasible standard for measuring school district attendance rates. Title: H.B. 3 - Omnibus Bill -- Attendance Rates Source: Digest of Enactments 2003 RI Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 This act would provide that a child, who has or will have completed six (6) years of life on or before September 1, rather than December 1, of any school year, shall be eligible to attend first grade. This act would take effect on January 1, 2006. Title: S.B. 593 Source: StateNet RI Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Provides that a child, who has or will have completed six (6) years of life by September 1, rather than December 1, of any school year, and has not completed sixteen (16) years of life, must regularly attend school. Title: S.B. 594 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Relates to truancy; permits local school districts and charter schools to define what constitutes a valid excuse from attending school and to excuse students with a valid excuse from attending school; requires that persons acting as caregivers must ensure that pupils are enrolled in and attend school; defines the term school year. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS142.NSF/Home!Openform Title: H.B. 186 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site NC Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Enhances the state's ability to protect children; after a student has 10 absences, if a principal finds that the parent has not made a good faith effort to comply with the law, the principal is required to notify the district attorney and the director of social services of the county where the child resides. Upon receiving notification by the principal, the director of social services must determine whether to undertake an investigation. Relates to child welfare service worker training; creates a registry of all family foster and therapeutic foster home applicants; relates to the Child Fatality Review Team. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html2003/bills/AllVersions/Senate/S421vc.html Title: S.B. 421 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us NH Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Relates to legal residency for the purpose of public school education; changes the definition of legal residency for homeless children and youths; provides that disputes regarding residency shall be resolved by the commissioner of the department of education, or a designee. Title: H.B. 568 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 This legislation is in response to the report by the Homeschool Committee as created by SJR 9. This legislation defines the types of homeschools, provides that students who are educated in the defined types of homeschools are exempt from the public school compulsory attendance requirement, and clarifies the enrollment and attendance reporting requirements for non-public schools. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS142.NSF/c6fe685e20e98b2b882569a60053971e/0783ba9d9139e14185256d20005d86c1?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,103 Title: S.B. 103 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site ME Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Requires that disciplinary, attendance and health records be included in the records that follow a student who transfers to another school either within or outside the state. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/LD026201-1.asp Title: S.P. 96 (LD 262) Source: www.mainelegislature.org NV Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Provides that a pupil must be in attendance for a minimum number of days to obtain credit or to be promoted to the next higher grade; requiring each school to provide notice to the parent or legal guardian of a pupil before the pupil is denied credit or promotion to the next higher grade; providing that a pupil and his parent or legal guardian may request a review of a decision to deny credit or promotion to the next higher grade. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/72nd/bills/SB/SB253_EN.pdf Title: S.B. 253 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 To facilitate the transfer of military personnel and their dependents to and from the public schools of this state, the agency is required to pursue reciprocity agreements with other states governing the terms of those transfers. Reciprocity agreement must permits a student to satisfy the requirements of Section 39.025 through successful performance on comparable exit-level assessment instruments administered in another state. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=00591&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Title: H.B. 591 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us TN Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Prohibits out-of-district or out-of-state enrollment within a school system. Restitution for out-of-district or out-of-state enrollment would be based on an amount equal to the local per pupil expenditure for students identified by the Tennessee department of education for the district in which the student is fraudulently enrolled; and the parent, guardian or other legal custodian of a fraudulently enrolled student would be liable for costs and fees, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the school district. Also, specifies that no action can be brought more than six years after the date on which the fraudulent enrollment occurred. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Summary.asp?BillNumber=SB0396 Title: S.B. 396 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us ME Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Regards age eligibility for enrollment in a public secondary school; authorizes the Commissioner of Education to waive on a case-by-case basis waivers of age requirements to allow students who have reached 20 years of age before the start of the school year to enroll as public secondary school students. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billdocs/LD059201.doc Title: S.P. 201 Source: StateNet WA Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Expands "residency" for purposes of attending Washington public schools. Any child who is of school age and otherwise eligible, residing in a home that is located in Idaho but that has a Washington address for the purposes of the United States postal service, shall be admitted, without payment of tuition, to the nearest Washington school district and shall be considered a resident student for state apportionment and all other purposes. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/1450-1474/1470-s_pl.pdf Title: H.B. 1470 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov CO Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Concerns a juvenile's right to counsel at proceedings under the School Attendance Law of 1963. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/C38AB5E15B8915CF87256CAB000098EF?Open&file=1226_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1226 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site WV Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Expunges motor vehicle license information for nineteen-year-olds when suspensions or revocations of their licenses are due to school attendance. Title: S.B. 162 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires high school students in grades 9 -12 to attend a full school day. Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) shall be required to schedule and attend a full school day. (b)(1) No later than January 30, 2004, the State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations that require students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) to enroll in no fewer than three hundred fifty (350) minutes of planned instructional time each day as a requirement for graduation. Allows boards to develop policies that require students to be assigned to no more that one (1) class period each day for a study hall period which the student shall be required to attend and participate in a full class period of self-study or organized tutoring in the school building; and (ii)(a) No more than one (1) class period each day for organized and scheduled student extracurricular classes to be included as planned instructional time. (b) If the extracurricular class is related to a seasonal activity, the class must continue to meet after the season ends to be counted toward the requirement of planned instructional time. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1439.pdf Title: H.B. 1439 Source: State legislative web site AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Amends the compulsory attendance law to reflect changes in the general education diploma requirements.http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1457.pdf Title: H.B. 1457 Source: State legislative web site VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Allows a juvenile who is found to be in need of services or in need of supervision for failure to comply with the compulsory school attendance requirements to be deferred for a period of 120 days and admitted to a truancy program approved by the court; provides this does not limit the court's authority to order other dispositions for the supervision, care and rehabilitation of the juvenile in addition to the services provided by a truancy program. Title: H.B. 1559 Source: StateNet MS Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Provides that the Compulsory School Attendance Law shall apply to any 5-year-old as of September 1st of an academic year, and who is already enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program (minimum compulsory school age remains 6 for those children who are not enrolled in full-day public kindergarten programs.) Parent may disenroll child from full-day kindergarten program once, and such child will not be a compulsory-school-age child until the child's sixth birthday. Specifies that no child may be admitted to kindergarten who has not turned 5 on or before September 1 of that academic year, and that no child may be admitted to first grade who has not turned 6 on or before September 1 of that academic year. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003/html/SB/2300-2399/SB2394SG.htm Title: S.B. 2394 Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003 CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Requires the school accountability report card to include the rate of pupils who earn Governor's scholarship awards. Deletes provisions which limit the amount of compensation of a school board member. Deletes the certification requirement regarding charter school revenue limits. Relates to the computation of average daily attendance. Permits a county superintendent of schools to grant an exemption from minimum expenditures for classroom teacher salaries. Title: A.B. 1818 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2002 P-12 Makes, commencing 7/1/2004, the Compulsory Attendance Law apply to a child, and the parents or guardian of a child between the ages of 5 and 6 who is enrolled in a public school kindergarten and attends the kindergarten for at least 30 days during the school year, unless the child is otherwise exempt as provided. Title: A.B. 634 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet DE Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 This Act requires the building principal to notify a visiting teacher when a student in grades 6 through 12 has ten or more unexcused days from school. The current statute provides a procedure for a visiting teacher to follow for students in grades K through 5. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS141.NSF/Home!Openform Title: S.B. 404 Source: http://www.legis.state.de.us RI To governor 06/2002 P-12 Requires children between 16 and 18 years of age to obtain permission from a custodial parent or guardian in order to be exempt from mandatory school attendance. Title: S.B. 2108 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Vetoed 06/2002 P-12 On or before September 1, 2002, the state board must adopt rules to ensure that students who transfer into an Oklahoma school district from out of state after the student's junior year of high school shall not be denied, due to differing graduation requirements, the opportunity to be awarded a standard diploma. Creates the "Oklahoma Social Studies Stimulus Program" to be administered by the state department. The purpose of the program is to provide incentives to encourage innovative ways of educating students through the social studies and to prepare students to become active, engaged participants in the democratic process. Title: S.B. 701 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/sb701_enr.rtf DE Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Permits civil charges to be brought against a student at the same time that criminal charges are brought against the parent, if the student is age 12 or over; amends both the truancy statute and the probation before judgment statute to permit the use of probation before judgment when a parent is charged. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS141.NSF/vwLegislation/ Title: H.B. 380 Source: www.legis.state.de.us TN Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Relates to truancy; mukes state-wide present authorization limited to Shelby County for local education agency to enter into agreement with its local law enforcement agency to enforce compulsory attendance. Title: H.B. 2650 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Establishes legislative intent that 1) every K-12 public school student attend school throughout the school year and comply with the school's code of conduct; and 2) parents of every public K-12 student "comply with the school's reasonable and time-acceptable parental involvement requests." See bill section 114, page 318, line number 23 ff: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/session/2002E/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0020Eer.pdf Title: S.B. 20E Source: www.leg.state.fl.us AL Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Extends active duty military protections and rights to members of the National Guard called or ordered by the Governor to State active duty for 30 consecutive days or more for emergencies or federally funded duty, other than training for homeland security; relates to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act; provides for a military leave of absence from educational institutions.http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2002rs/bills/hb464.htm Title: H.B. 464 Source: alisdb.legislature.state.al.us CO Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Allows the court to impose incarceration to juvenile detention facility for violating a valid court order under the "School Attendance Law of 1963" after finding the child is guilty of the charges; or child found in contempt of court may be placed in community service, supervised activities, or other educational activities http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/719E6F76D74235F087256B1800501083?Open&file=1079_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1079 Source: www.leg.state.co.us LA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Adds a judicial district to the truancy and assessment and service center pilot program. http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/021ES/CVT5/OUT/0000JIZA.PDF Title: S.B. 32A Source: www.legis.state.la.us MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Reenacts sections relating to Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and school attendance officers. Creates a Task Force to Conduct a Best Financial Management Practices Review of the State Department of Education. Requires the development of best practices for specified areas. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2002/html/HB/0400-0499/HB0492SG.htm Title: H.B. 492 Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us ID Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Provides a procedure for the board of trustees of a school district when a child is determined to be in violation of school attendance requirements. Title: H.B. 657 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MS Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Clarifies that school districts may require a parent, guardian or custodian to accompany child seeking to enroll in the school district. Title: H.B. 1030 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WV Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Relates to the counting of students in net enrollment when the transfer of students between counties is effectuated without the agreement of both boards by official action as reflected in the minutes of their respective meetings. Title: H.B. 4428 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 01/2002 P-12 Any minor who is required to be reported as a truant may be required to attend makeup classes conducted on one day of a weekend and is subject to the following: (a) The first time a truancy report is required, the pupil may be personally given a written warning by any peace officer specified in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code. A record of the written warning may be kept at the school for a period of not less than two years, or until the pupil graduates, or transfers, from that school. If the pupil transfers, the record may be forwarded to any school receiving the pupil's school records. A record of the written warning may be maintained by the law enforcement agency in accordance with that law enforcement agency's policies and procedures. (b) The second time a truancy report is required within the same school year, the pupil may be assigned by the school to an afterschool or weekend study program located within the same county as the pupil's school. If the pupil fails to successfully complete the assigned study program, the pupil shall be subject to subdivision (c). (c) The third time a truancy report is required within the same school year, the pupil shall be classified a habitual truant and may be referred to, and required to attend, an attendance review board or a truancy mediation program. If the district does not have a truancy mediation program, the pupil may be required to attend a comparable program deemed acceptable by the school district's attendance supervisor. If the pupil does not successfully complete the truancy mediation program or other similar program, the pupil shall be subject to subdivision (d). (d) The fourth time a truancy is required to be reported within the same school year, the pupil shall be within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court which may adjudge the pupil to be a ward of the court pursuant to Section 601 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. If the pupil is adjudged a ward of the court, the pupil shall be required to do one or more of the following: (1) Performance at court-approved community services sponsored by either a public or private nonprofit agency for not less than 20 hours but not more than 40 hours over a period not to exceed 90 days, during a time other than the pupil's hours of school attendance or employment. The probation officer shall report to the court the failure of the pupil to comply with this paragraph. (2) Payment of a fine by the pupil of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for which a parent or guardian of the pupil may be jointly liable. (3) Attendance of a court-approved truancy prevention program. (4) Suspension or revocation of driving privileges. This subdivision shall apply only to a pupil who has attended a school attendance review board program, a program operated by a probation department acting as a school attendance review board, or a truancy mediation program. Title: A.B. 804 Source: California Legislative Web Site LA Signed into law 07/2001 P-12 , Requires with certain exceptions, persons having control of a child to send such child to school from the child's seventh birthday until his eighteenth birthday rather than his seventeenth birthday. Title: H.B. 19 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TX Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Relates to truancy and the authority of justice and municipal courts in relation to children; provides criminal penalties for contributing to a truancy. Title: S.B. 1432 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 The state board shall adopt rules no later than July 1, 2001, to provide for the implementation of remote internet-based courses. Each district board of education shall adopt policies and procedures that conform to rules for internet-based courses as adopted by the State Board. Students participating in approved remote courses are considered to be in attendance. Title: S.B. 595 Source: Oklahoma Legislative Web Site IA Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Relates to the compulsory attendance age and attendance at school during the regular school calendar by a child who has reached the age of 16. Title: S.B. 412 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WV Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Prohibits suspension as discipline for failure to attend class; stipulates other methods of discipline may be used for the pupil which may include, but are not limited to, detention, extra class time or alternative class settings; abolishes corporal punishment; gives teachers authority to exclude from classrooms or school bus any pupil who is guilty of disorderly conduct, who in any manner interferes with an orderly educational process, who threatens, abuses or otherwise intimidates or attempts to intimidate a school employee or a pupil, who willfully disobeys a school employee, or who uses abusive or profane language directed at a school employee. Any pupil excluded shall be placed under the control of the principal of the school or a designee. The excluded pupil may be admitted to the classroom or school bus only when the principal, or a designee, provides written certification to the teacher that the pupil may be readmitted and specifies the specific type of disciplinary action, if any, which was taken. When a teacher excludes the same pupil from his or her classroom or from a school bus three times in one school year, and after exhausting all reasonable methods of classroom discipline provided in the school discipline plan, the pupil may be readmitted to the teacher's classroom only after the principal, teacher and, if possible, the parent(s), guardian(s) or custodian(s) of the pupil have held a conference to discuss the pupil's disruptive behavior patterns, and the teacher and the principal agree on a course of discipline for the pupil and inform the parent(s), guardian(s) or custodian(s) of the course of action. Thereafter, if the pupil's disruptive behavior persists, upon the teacher's request, the principal may, to the extent feasible, transfer the pupil to another setting. Title: S.B. 439 Source: West Virginia Legislative Web Site ND Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Any person having responsibility for a child between the ages of seven and sixteen years shall ensure that the child is in attendance at a public school for the duration of each school year. If a person enrolls a child of age six in a public school, the person shall ensure that the child is in attendance at the public school for the duration of each school year. The person may withdraw a child of age six from the public school. However, once the child is withdrawn, the person may not reenroll the child until the following school year. This subsection does not apply if the reason for the withdrawal is the child's relocation to another school district. Title: H.B. 1371 Source: http://www.state.nd.us/lr AR Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Institutes a monitoring program for students obtaining waivers of school attendance requirements to attend adult education programs. Title: H.B. 2300 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NM Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Raises compulsory school attendance age from 16 to age 17. Title: H.B. 781 Source: New Mexico Legislative Web Site WY Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Relates to school districts; requires districts to excuse students participating in the state fair from school attendance. Title: S.B. 86 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NY To governor 12/2000 P-12 Increases the age after which a minor may not be required to attend school from 16 to 17. Title: S.B. 8071 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TN Became law without governor's signature 06/2000 P-12 Requires State to deny drivers license or permit to student withdrawn from secondary school who has 5 or more unexcused absences while attending course leading to a GED certificate. Title: S.B. 3152 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VT Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 The age of compulsory school attendance is lowered from age seven to six. Title: H.B. 270 Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm CT Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Starting July 1, 2001, this act requires students to stay in school until age 18, instead of age 16, unless their parents consent to their leaving school before they turn 18 or graduate. The parent must appear at the school district office to sign a form withdrawing the student from school, at which time the school district must provide the parent with information about educational options available in the school system and in the community. The act extends local school districts' existing responsibility for ensuring that all school age children who live in the district attend school to cover 16- and 17-year-olds who do not have permission to drop out. It does not change the requirement that local districts to offer alternative educational opportunities to expelled students only if they are under age 16. Title: H.B. 5276 Source: http://www.cga.state.ct.us/olr/2000MPA/education.htm TN Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Establishes standard by which school pupils subject to mandatory attendance are found to be habitual truant or truant; authorizes law enforcement officers and school attendance officers to pick up and deliver truant to parent, guardian, school principal or truancy center; provides such officers with civil immunity for such actions unless found to be outside scope of employment or performed with gross negligence or willful misconduct. Title: S.B. 2425 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NH Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 In cases where New Hampshire is party to an interstate school agreement with another state, this bill allows New Hampshire pupils to attend a school which meets the standards established by one of the 2 states. Title: S.B. 319 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MS Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Provides that certain law enforcement officers shall be authorized to investigate and file petitions in the proper court against parent or child under the provisions of the State Compulsory School Attendance Law. Title: S.B. 3043 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 The compulsory attendance age is lowered from seven to six. Title: H.B. 1187 Source: Georgia Department of Education GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Allows parents or guardians of students who live closer to a school other than the one to which they are assigned to request to attend the closer school, even if the school is across county lines. The State Board of Education decides if the school is actually closer. If crossing county lines, the receiving system can bill the sending system for the costs of the student. The receiving system may petition the state to pay any difference between what that system expends to educate the child and the amount paid by the sending system. Title: H.B. 1187 Source: Georgia Department of Education VA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Requires the juvenile and domestic relations court to order the denial of driving privileges for at least 30 days to any child at least 13 years of age upon a finding that the child has failed to comply with certain school attendance and parent-school conference meeting requirements. Title: H.B. 490 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 Postsec. Revises the provision authorizing school boards to admit nonresident students and charge such students tuition, to provide that persons of school age who reside beyond the boundaries of the Commonwealth but near thereto in a state or the District of Columbia which grants the same privileges to residents of the Commonwealth may be admitted and so charged. Title: S.B. 499 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet