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Senate study committee spotlights local protocols as ‘canary’ in chronic absenteeism fight
Summary
At a joint Senate–House study hearing on chronic absenteeism, speakers highlighted local attendance-review protocols — notably Cobb County’s multi‑stakeholder approach — as the practical response to rising absentee rates and the precursor to dropout and juvenile justice involvement.
A joint Senate–House study committee on combating chronic absenteeism heard Wednesday that local, multi‑stakeholder attendance protocols are the most concrete tool to address rising absenteeism and prevent students from dropping out or entering the juvenile justice system.
Senator John F. Kennedy, who chaired the hearing, said the issue stretches beyond education into workforce and public health and thanked members of both chambers for the joint effort. Judge Asha Harris, chief superior court judge in Cobb County, told lawmakers chronic absenteeism is "the real canary in the coal mine" — an early warning sign that, left unchecked, often precedes dropping out and later criminal justice involvement.
The hearing emphasized grassroots, local solutions. Judge Harris described Cobb County’s protocol as a formal, named network of stakeholders — schools, law enforcement, juvenile court staff, social workers and community providers — that signs a protocol committing specific staff and duties. The Cobb protocol, which launched publicly this year, involved 38 signees at a formal signing and includes things Judge Harris described as "specific names and specific functions and specific responsibilities." She said the protocol contains a five‑day truancy notification process, a progressive pre‑court discipline ladder and data points for schools to track attendance and climate.
Why it matters: Committee members framed absenteeism as a statewide problem with local solutions. Judge Harris and other presenters argued that early, coordinated intervention — linking school staff, social workers, courts and community providers — can stop students’ problems from escalating into long suspensions, chronic absenteeism, dropout and eventually increased use of taxpayer‑funded services.
Discussion details and next steps Committee members and presenters discussed how to replicate the Cobb model statewide. Judge Harris said roughly 16 judicial circuits had protocols underway as of midsummer, covering about 37 counties, and that the statutory deadline for establishing protocols is in June (as noted in committee testimony). Speakers pressed for: clearer statewide guidance, dedicated technical assistance to help rural circuits form protocols, and a central repository of sample protocols and training materials.
Several members urged formalizing responsibilities so schools and local partners know who will be "on the hook" for carrying out the work. Judge Harris and others said protocols must identify boots‑on‑the‑ground staff (school counselors, social workers) as well as an authoritative stakeholder able to move partners to action. Judge Harris said the goal is to "get to these kids before they end up entangled in the juvenile court system."
Ending Lawmakers told witnesses they would continue hearings and asked for follow‑up materials, including protocol templates and implementation timelines. Senator Kennedy said the committee would resume work and asked staff to compile presenters’ materials for the next meeting so lawmakers could begin shaping policy options.
