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House approves bill directing Oregon Department of Education to standardize attendance coding and report on chronic absenteeism
Summary
Senate Bill 315 orders the Oregon Department of Education to develop a common coding system and best practices for recording student absences, with a report due May 31, 2026; chronic absenteeism was defined on the floor as missing 10% or more of the school year.
The Oregon House passed Senate Bill 315, directing the Oregon Department of Education to review attendance practices, develop a common coding system for reporting student absences and publish best practices to address chronic absenteeism.
Representative Susan Dobson, speaking for the bill, said chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year and noted elevated rates since the pandemic. She said the measure aims to create statewide consistency across Oregon’s 197 districts and to help identify underlying causes such as transportation, mental‑health barriers and disconnection from school.
The bill directs the Department of Education to deliver recommendations and a common coding system by May 31, 2026, and to report those findings to the interim legislative education committee and the state board of education. The House passed the bill on third reading; the clerk declared it adopted.
