Dr. Hall briefed the board on state changes to attendance reporting and excused‑absence categories that will affect South Madison recordkeeping and followup.
He said the law expands categories of activities that allow a student to be counted present even when not physically at school — for example, serving as a page, working as an election worker, participation in National FFA/Indiana FFA or 4‑H scheduled competitions, or household participation in the Indiana State Fair. “Any student who participates in the scheduled competition exhibition event offered by National FFA, Indiana FFA, or 4 H are now to be considered present at school,” Dr. Hall said.
Dr. Hall described a new rolling standard for excessive absences: “If you miss 5 days of school within any 10 week period…then you're considered to be an excessively absent student,” he said, adding that the district must notify parents and that the statute requires annual coordination with the prosecutor’s office and the state attendance officer. He told the board the Department of Education will compile and publish best practices and guidance on classroom behavior and discipline.
The superintendent explained two categories of excused absences that are still recorded as absences: administrator‑approved nonemergency absences (health, family emergency, religious observance or other extenuating circumstances) and two types of family‑choice absences. “Family choice planned” covers prearranged nonemergency events such as vacations and is excused but marked absent; “family choice unplanned” covers unforeseen family circumstances, weather or lack of transportation and is excused when the parent notifies the school, Dr. Hall said.
Board members asked about the district’s ability to run and automate the rolling‑10‑week reports. Dr. Hall said some buildings already run weekly reports and staff will create and run the necessary reports, but that the rolling window will make the reporting parameterization more complex.
This discussion was informational; no policy change was adopted at the meeting.