Committee hears bill to guarantee excused absences for civic and CTE participation
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Summary
A bill proposing two excused absences per quarter for students who participate in civic engagement or career and technical education drew widespread support from students and mixed reaction from school boards and members concerned about local control and operational details.
Representative James Thiebaud introduced HB 15 73 on behalf of students who miss school for civic and CTE events, saying the bill would give each student two excused absences per quarter so they can attend activities such as Youth and Government, 4‑H or job shadows without academic penalty.
"The bill provides students with 2 excused absences per quarter," Thiebaud said, describing the measure as a modest, bipartisan change modeled after laws in California and New Jersey. He said districts could still require proof of attendance and that schools would retain discretion to excuse additional absences.
Several student witnesses told the committee the proposed floor would reduce barriers to civic participation. Casey Peters, a high-school senior, said opportunities to observe government, shadow leaders and testify were often impossible when absences were recorded as unexcused. Andrew King, another student testifying, described multiple occasions he left school for civic activities and said he supports the bill.
Becky Wilson, director of governmental relations for the New Hampshire School Boards Association, opposed the bill as written. She said most districts already include pathways for excused absences in handbooks and warned the measure could undercut local attendance policies, create administrative burdens, and raise questions about whether the two‑day allowance stacks with other categories of excused absences.
Committee members pressed sponsors on practical details: how administrators would determine whether an activity qualified, whether appeals should be available when requests are denied, how the allowance would interact with athletics and block schedules, and whether the language should reference CTE definitions rather than list organizations. Thiebaud said he was open to amendments to clarify duration, definitions and appeals and emphasized the bill is intended to ensure students have equitable access to off‑site learning.
The committee closed the public hearing without a vote and moved on to other business.
