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Mass. bill would excuse school absences for students competing in national or international events
Summary
Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch filed a bill Jan. 17 that would amend Massachusetts’ compulsory attendance law to allow excused absences for students taking part in U.S. national-governing-body-sanctioned competitions, with a B average requirement and principal discretion for extended absences.
Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch filed legislation Jan. 17, 2025, that would allow excused school absences for students participating in national or international competitions sanctioned by a U.S. national governing body under 36 U.S.C. 2205, provided the students maintain a B grade-point average or equivalent in academic courses. The filing appears as House Bill No. 667 (An Act relative to school absences).
The measure would insert language into Section 1 of chapter 76 of the Massachusetts General Laws to permit such absences and to give school principals discretion to approve excused absences that exceed seven consecutive days or 14 half-day sessions in a six-month period. The bill text specifies those limits and the academic standard for approval.
The proposal would change how the Commonwealth treats absences that result from participation in competitions governed by national bodies; the filing cites the federal statute commonly known as the Ted Stevens Act (36 U.S.C. 2205) to define the qualifying competitions. The bill does not specify how school districts should document competitions or verify the sanctioning body beyond that reference.
The filing on the House docket does not record any legislative votes or committee actions. It is a petition for the adoption of the bill and was presented by Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch of Wellesley (14th Norfolk). The transcript of the filing contains the full amendment language but does not include debate, sponsor statements, or implementation details beyond the text of the proposed statutory change.
If enacted, the change would place an academic threshold (B average) and a principal-level approval process on excused absences for student competitors; the bill text itself leaves the practical procedures (for documentation, appeals, or verification) unspecified.
The docketed bill was filed with the House on Jan. 17, 2025; the transcript does not indicate committee referral, hearing dates, or any votes.
