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Hillsborough school staff outline major attendance changes tied to state law, urge clearer family outreach
Summary
District staff presented a broad rewrite of Policy 5200 at a July 21 workshop to align with Florida law and emphasize prevention and early intervention; the draft spells out statutory truancy thresholds and possible sanctions and asks staff to clarify makeup-work timing and social‑worker roles before a public hearing.
District staff presented a comprehensive revision to the school‑district attendance policy (Policy 5200) at the July 21 policy workshop, telling board members the draft is intended to bring district rules into alignment with recent changes in Florida law and to strengthen prevention and early intervention.
The proposed policy defines habitual truancy using the state standard — 15 unexcused absences in a 90‑calendar‑day period — and explains statutory consequences tied to that threshold. A staff member said, “when students reach a threshold defined by statute as habitually truant, which is 15 unexcused absences in a 90 calendar day period…those students’ driver’s licenses would be suspended until they demonstrate a pattern of attendance that’s sustainable.” The presentation emphasized new procedural clarity, roles for district and school staff, and communications to families.
Board members pressed for more detail on two practical points: how makeup work will be scheduled and who on campus is responsible for outreach when students begin missing school. Member Vaughn asked whether the draft’s multiple references to different makeup‑work timelines could create confusion for principals and teachers. A staff presenter replied that the draft intends a two‑step process — a minimum two days to request make‑up work and an allowance of the number of days missed plus one for completing it — and agreed to tighten the language.
Members also asked how the policy will treat uniquely mobile families. Member Vaughn raised the situation of students who leave the country temporarily for visa processing and asked whether those students would be unenrolled and later readmitted. Counsel and staff said principals have discretion in many enrollment scenarios and that staff would clarify the policy language to show where principal discretion applies.
The board heard repeated calls for clearer, widespread family outreach if the policy is adopted. A board member urged staff to include an acknowledgement mechanism so families receive and confirm the changes electronically; staff said they would include the policy in the district’s first‑day packet and add an electronic acknowledgment step.
The draft will be refined to remove inconsistent makeup‑work wording, clarify which offices (for example, whether and where social workers are explicitly referenced) are responsible for attendance follow‑up, and add clear communications protocols for families. Staff said they plan a public hearing after incorporating the board’s feedback.
What comes next: staff will revise the draft to address points raised at the workshop, return with clarified language and communication plans, and schedule the policy for the public hearing and subsequent board action.
