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Panel approves adding up to five 'educational leave' days and state rulemaking for excused absences
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Summary
The committee approved a committee substitute for SB1020 to add up to five educational leave days to excused absences, require a parent/guardian note within three days describing the purpose, and direct the state board to define qualifying activities; an amendment clarifying county boards may reject notes that don't meet the state standard was adopted and the bill was reported to the full Senate.
The Senate Education Committee agreed to committee-substitute language to add up to five "educational leave" days to the statutory list of excused absences for K–12 students and directed the State Board to promulgate a rule defining what qualifies.
Committee counsel said the substitute requires a child’s parent, guardian or custodian to submit a note within three days of the student’s return explaining the purpose of the leave. Counsel also noted the substitute incorporates certain provisions from SB925, which limited three absence categories to 10 days and removed one category that had covered activities such as FFA and 4‑H.
Concerns and amendment: senators asked whether local schools would have discretion to deny educational leave requests to prevent abuse (for example by chronically truant students). Members agreed to an amendment specifying that county boards must apply the State Board’s rule and may reject notes that do not meet the state standard; that amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Committee action: the committee agreed to the committee substitute as amended and voted to report SB1020 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.
Next steps: the bill proceeds to the full Senate for further consideration and the State Board is expected to develop the qualifying rules if the bill advances.
