SB 619

Abstract

Public elementary and secondary schools; compulsory attendance policies and procedures; educational neglect defined.Revises the policies and procedures relating to addressing thenonattendance or nonenrollment of a child subject to compulsory educationrequirements by expanding the definition of "abused or neglectedchild" to include educational neglect and, therefore, requiring anyteacher, attendance officer, or other person employed by such child'sschool, to report such neglect to the appropriate authority in accordancewith pertinent law. The bill defines "educational neglect" as thefailure or refusal to provide necessary education for a child whois subject to compulsory attendance in accordance with relevant lawand is enrolled in a public school and has missed 10 percent or moreof the academic year, including by (i) causing or allowing the childto become chronically absent, defined as any student who has missed10 percent or more of the academic year for any reason, includingexcused and unexcused absences, or (ii) failing or refusing to enrolla child in any school who is not otherwise exempt from school attendanceif (a) such failure or refusal to enroll continues after the schoolnotifies and institutes proceedings against the parent and (b) thetime elapsed between the institution of proceedings and the continuednoncompliance to date exceeds 10 percent of the academic year.