Education committee revises absenteeism bill to standardize truancy protocol and add support measures

The Legislative Education Committee conducted line‑by‑line markup of H.530 on the creation of a statewide model policy to prevent chronic absenteeism and truancy, directing the Agency of Education (AOE) to consult with school boards, principals, superintendents, independent schools and school counselors in drafting the policy.

Committee members emphasized that the model policy must include tailored responses for students with disabilities and guidance to support emotional, academic and social reintegration. The draft sets a three‑year review cadence for the model policy rather than annual review, per the committee discussion.

The bill language under consideration would require a standard template documenting actions taken under the local policy; that documentation would constitute the truancy reporting protocol referenced elsewhere in statute. Committee discussion noted the measure would also standardize parent and guardian notices (section 1127) that alert families when students approach statutory thresholds for truancy.

Committee members reiterated current statutory thresholds for compulsory attendance: a student between ages 6 and 16 who accumulates 20 or more unexcused absences in a school year or within 175 consecutive student attendance days may trigger the compulsory attendance process under section 1126. If nonexcused absences persist after written notice, a truant officer must file a complaint with the state's attorney and provide the complaint information and the truancy reporting protocol as evidence.

The markup clarifies that the state's attorney may prosecute or alternatively file a CHINS (child in need of supervision) petition under existing law; a prosecution can carry a statutory fine capped at $1,000. Committee members discussed whether fines or community service should remain available sentencing options and flagged that courts currently have discretion over remedies.

Members also debated removing a historical enforcement provision (section 1128) that dates back to the 19th century and authorized certain officers to take absent children to school; one member objected to repealing that language.

A new subsection would authorize schools to provide alternative education (tutoring, instructional materials and assignments) during suspensions of three or more days and to provide educational access for expelled students as otherwise required by law. The committee set implementation milestones in the draft: an agency update due March 15, 2027; AOE adoption and publication of the model policy on or before July 1, 2027; and a July 1, 2027 deadline for school boards to adopt local policies.

Stakeholders in the hearing urged the committee to use the model‑policy process to analyze root causes of chronic absenteeism. "I, Gail Sass, on behalf of the social workers and the school counselors," said a stakeholder who testified to the committee, noting agency testimony that "25% of students are chronically absent," and proposing an agency report on causes such as transportation barriers and homelessness and recommendations about school resources (social workers, counselors) needed to prevent absenteeism.

Committee members agreed to add school social workers to the stakeholder list and to consider a report back from the agency on root causes and resource needs as part of the model‑policy development. No final votes were recorded in the markup; the committee scheduled follow‑up drafts and stakeholder meetings ahead of the next session.