Texas Senate Bill SB1355

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the calculation of absences for truancy purposes and to attendance at truancy court adjudication hearings by certain parents.

Impact

The implementation of SB1355 is intended to reduce the number of students classified as truant, potentially allowing for a more favorable view of attendance among students who may struggle to attend class fully due to extenuating circumstances. This will likely lead to a decrease in referrals to truancy courts for parents if their children are deemed to be present long enough during the school day. Additionally, by lessening the punitive nature of absences for students who meet the 75% threshold, schools may foster a more supportive environment that encourages attendance rather than penalizing families prematurely, thereby focusing on solutions rather than legal actions.

Summary

SB1355 focuses on the calculation of absences for truancy purposes within the Texas Education Code, specifically targeting students from kindergarten through grade 12. It introduces provisions that specify students will not be considered absent if they are present for at least 75% of a class or an instructional day. This change aims to give clearer guidelines to schools on how attendance is tracked and reported, particularly in relation to truancy laws. The bill requires each school district and open-enrollment charter school to implement policies that comply with this new standard, promoting consistency across the state in how student attendance is measured.

Contention

While SB1355 appears beneficial in preventing unnecessary truancy charges, it may also raise concerns regarding accountability. Critics could argue that the 75% attendance requirement might encourage students to attend classes superficially without fully engaging or participating in their education. Furthermore, there could be divisions among stakeholders about the effectiveness of truancy courts and whether expanding definitions of attendance will genuinely lead to improved educational outcomes or simply create loopholes in accountability measures. Additionally, school districts may face challenges in uniformly implementing the new attendance policies, which could exacerbate disparities in educational management across different regions.