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Lee County officials outline new attendance rules under SB 1234, say district outperforms state average
Summary
Lee County education officials described requirements of Senate Bill 1234 — countywide attendance committees and school/district review teams — and reported the district’s chronic absenteeism at 13% in 2024–25 compared with the state’s 19.5% average; two schools exceed the 15% intervention threshold.
Dr. Davis Sims, presenting the district’s attendance update, told the board that Senate Bill 1234 requires a countywide student attendance and climate committee led by the superior court chief judge and the creation of attendance review teams at the district and school levels.
"The state defines a chronically absent student as a student who misses 10% of the days they are enrolled," Dr. Davis Sims said. He said the rule equates to about 18 days for a student enrolled for a full school year and that teams must develop and monitor interventions for students who meet the threshold.
The district reported a 13% chronic absenteeism average for Lee County in 2024–25, compared with a state average of 19.5%, and officials said only two schools in the district exceeded the 15% school‑level threshold and have plans underway to address those students. Dr. Davis Sims said that where a school reaches 15% chronic absence, an attendance review team made up of district staff and community members must create and monitor a plan.
Board members asked whether consequences include disciplinary measures or loss of credit. District presenters replied that chronic absenteeism counts both excused and unexcused absences for the 10% measure; at the high school level excessive absence can affect course credit, but there is an appeals and extenuating‑circumstances process and court referrals are a last resort after interventions have been tried.
The update placed Lee County below the state average and lower than several nearby systems of similar size, the presenter said, and officials committed to continuing monitoring and reporting on interventions and attendance status during the year.
The board did not take action on the attendance item at this meeting; the presentation was informational and the district will follow SB 1234 reporting and team formation requirements.
