Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House Education Committee advances bill to standardize response to chronic absenteeism
Summary
The House Education Committee on April 7 advanced an Agency of Education bill (reported out of committee 11–0) that would add statutory definitions for chronic absenteeism, require a state model policy and encourage nonpunitive, intervention‑focused approaches while preserving local control.
Representative Robert Hunter, the bill sponsor, told the House Education Committee on April 7 that chronic absenteeism rose sharply after the coronavirus pandemic and that the proposed legislation aims to shift schools away from primarily punitive responses.
"Since the coronavirus pandemic, chronic absenteeism in Vermont and the United States has risen dramatically," Hunter said when introducing the AOE‑backed proposal and cited national and state data showing rates near 30 percent in the years after the pandemic. He said the bill—referred to in testimony as H 9 to 30—seeks ‘‘a shift in mindset’’ toward outreach and interventions rather than immediate enforcement.
The bill would add consistent statutory definitions (the testimony described the need to define terms such as chronic absenteeism and truancy), require the Agency of…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
