Board hears state guidance coming on attendance and limits on cyber‑school transfers
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Summary
Board members reported the Pennsylvania Department of Education will issue guidance and FAQs related to Act 47 (2025) on attendance and that recent legislative changes aim to limit rapid transfers to cyber schools for students with chronic absences.
Board members said Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) guidance on Act 47 of 2025 is imminent and will include frequently asked questions to help administrators address attendance problems and related issues.
An attendee (board speaker) said Superintendent Missus Skrinovich sent information from PDE and characterized the guidance as a useful administrative resource. The speaker said the legislature has moved to address what some districts call a "cyber school problem," and that one of the changes gives districts, through PDE guidance, tools to address consistent attendance issues and to deter rapid transfers to cyber schools that can result in students avoiding in‑person accountability.
The speaker framed the change as intended to keep students in district programs and allow administrators to handle attendance matters on an individualized basis so students "stay in school, get the education they need." The speaker said PDE’s forthcoming guidance will help administrators implement legislative changes and promised the district will "peruse it" and plan next steps.
No formal action was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt on changes to district attendance policy; board discussion in the excerpt was informational. Any policy change or enforcement practice would require subsequent review and possible action by the board or its administration.